Agreement has been reached on a Christmas bonus for the majority of those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. It means that anyone getting the payment for four months, and it does not have to have been continuously, up to December will receive the bonus.
It could see up to 90% of those currently receiving the PUP getting the double payment on 7 December. It followed lengthy talks between Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.
It has also emerged that Budget 2021 will pave the way for the hiring of 600 new gardaí and 500 garda staff next year. There is also likely to be funding to quickly purchase 70 new vehicles after gardaí were reliant on rented cars during the pandemic.