The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has reported that payments valued at €209.3million have been distributed through the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployed Payment scheme.
The number of people in receipt of the payment is currently 598,000, and there are now over 52,000 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioner for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The statistics have revealed that 8,600 people working in primary production, such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying, received the pandemic payment on May 1st. This is an increase of 200 people from the previous week.
Post-pandemic challenge
Speaking on the latest statistics, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said:
“The covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced at speed for maximum impact so that we could help as many people as possible during what is an unprecedented, once in a century, health emergency.”
“The fact that so many have been moved into payment so quickly is a testimony to the agility and innovation my department has demonstrated to respond to this crisis. We need to respond to the post-pandemic challenge with the same qualities and with a similar impact.”
“Working with the new Labour Market Advisory Council I recently appointed, my officials are now planning the necessary further supports and initiatives we will need to put in place to ensure that the thousands of workers who have been displaced can return to work as quickly as possible.”
“We are determined that this short-term health crisis will not be a long-term economic one for all those workers and families who have been affected,” she concluded.
