The COVID emergency payments will be extended for months rather than weeks, according to the government.
But people who were working part time before the crisis will have their rate cut below the €350 a week currently provided.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said people working part time will still be earning more than they were before the crisis hit.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said any cut in the rate is still unfair:
