The number of people in Donegal receiving a Pandemic Unemployment Payment has increased again this week to 8,530.
More than 2,400 people have signed on for the emergency payment in Donegal in the past fortnight following the introduction of Level 3 restrictions.
The figure increased by almost 2,000 last week, and a further 584 people will receive payments this Tuesday.
Nationally, the sector with the highest number of people receiving a PUP payment this week is Accommodation and Food Service Activities (69,535) followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (30,500) and Administrative and Support Service activities (22,640). The Accommodation and Food Service Activities sector has increased by 18,249 since last week.
Some €61.4 million will be paid out in PUP this week, supporting almost 229,000 people. The number of people receiving a PUP payment this week represents an increase of 23,265 on the 205,593 people paid last week.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, said: “The increase in the number of recipients reflects the seriousness of the impact of the pandemic on the economic life of the country.
“I know it has been difficult for many businesses particularly in the hospitality sector who have been impacted by Level 3 restrictions.
“My priority is ensuring that we get payments to impacted workers quickly, this is the very reason Government has kept PUP open for applications. Over 95% of people who applied for PUP this week did so online. This meant that it was possible to process the claims immediately and issue payments without delay.
“This illustrates the value of applying for PUP through MyWelfare.ie and I would therefore encourage any person whose employment has been impacted by restrictions to apply online.”
