Over 10,000 receiving Covid unemployment payment in Westmeath

The number of people in Westmeath receiving the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment in Westmeath has fallen by 800 in the past week.

As of today, June 2, there are 10,300 receiving the payment; last Tuesday, May 26, there were 11,100 receiving it, figures released by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection ireveal.

Nationally, the Department has issued payments valued at €190.2m to 543,200 people in respect of their application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) of which 246,800 are female and 296,400 are male.

This is a reduction of 36,200 on the number of people paid at the same point last week.  Amongst the recipients are 28,400 who have now informed the Department that they are returning to work and 20,100 of these will be receiving their last payment this week.

A total of 682,400 people have received at least one payment since the scheme started.

As well as those on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now over 57,800 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 508,100 people under that scheme.

The above payments are in addition to the 214,700 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of April.

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said:

“The peak demand for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has passed in parallel with the flattening of the Covid-19 curve and each week, if the current progress on the health front holds firm, we will see an incremental drop on the numbers in need of this assistance. However, not everybody will be getting back to work in the first phases of the reopening of our society and, as I confirmed in the Dáil last week, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will extend beyond the original June end date.

“As we gradually move through all the phases of reopening our society, we do need to review the nature of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and how it fits into cross-Government plans to keep Ireland healthy and get the country working again. We are currently considering this and will soon bring forward proposals for some changes. Any future decisions will be based on our commitment that everyone who needs help will get the most appropriate assistance and also based on the ongoing progress we experience from the reopening of the economy.”

All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office today, Tuesday 2nd June.