If you have been made redundant you are entitled to notice pay. If you apply for voluntary redundancy you are not entitled to notice pay.
It sounds like your employer is making you redundant, but claiming it is temporary lay off. There is a procedure where the employer can lay employees off, and after 4 weeks of this, they can apply for voluntary redundancy unless the employer offers them 13 weeks employment again.
A lot of employers are trying this at the minute to get out of making notice payments.
You are under no obligation to accept lay off. If you refuse to accept the lay off, then he can make you redundant, but he will have to pay notice pay in those circumstances. YOu can take him to court if he refuses to pay, or report him to the National Employment Rights Authority 1890 808090
If he does not have the money to make the payment, you can apply to the Social Insurance Fund for the notice pay. [broken link removed]