The number of people claiming Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has decreased further in Donegal this week.
19,000 workers in the county will receive the €350 payment tomorrow – down from 20,200 on 2nd June.
A further 900 people in the county have now informed the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that they are returning to work on 9th June.
As the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a weekly payment paid in arrears, there can be a one week lag in how closures are reflected in the payment data.
Meanwhile, 1,100 people in Donegal are on Enhanced Illness Benefit, including those who have been advised by their GP to self-isolate together with a smaller number in respect of people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
Today, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection issued payments valued at €180.5m to 515,700 people in respect of their application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
This is a reduction of 27,400 on the number of people paid at the same point last week. Amongst the recipients are 22,200 who have now informed the Department that they are returning to work and 16,200 of these will be receiving their last payment this week.
As well as those on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now over 59,000 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) with at least one subsidy being paid in respect of over 520,900 people under that scheme.
The above payments are in addition to the 225,600 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of May.
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said: “Today’s Pandemic Unemployment Payment numbers reflect a drop of almost 90,000 people receiving support – or 15% – since the peak in recipients in May. As we enter a new phase of our reopening of Irish society today, we can expect the numbers returning to work to continue to climb.
“As the country marks a further step backs towards normality, or at least towards a ‘new normal’, I would stress the vital role Pandemic Unemployment Payment has played in contributing to assisting the strong public support for necessary public health measures which has allowed us to move to phase two.
“Not everybody will return to work today or tomorrow and my department will continue to assist those who need income replacement supports. As I announced last week, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue until August 2020 and I have tasked my officials to start working on options for the scheme’s future beyond that – taking into account progress in the re-opening of society and the developing health situation.”
All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow, Tuesday 9th June.
