14,500 people in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath are now claiming it.
14,500 people are claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the midlands this week - an increase of 1,800 on last week.
Westmeath sees the largest jump with almost an additional 1,000 recipients - 6,022 people are claiming the payment today.
While Laois is up 583 to 4,334, and Offaly up 415 to 4,133.
Almost 330,000 people nationwide are in receipt of the PUP payment this weekend, totalling €95.5 million.
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