Reduction of 400 Receiving Covid-19 Payment In Midlands

Monday, 25 May 2020 14:30

Nationally, there's been a decrease of 5,200.

There's been a reduction of 400 people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment in the Midlands this week.

Westmeath saw a reduction of 200 from 11,300 to 11,100, with a drop of 100 in Laois from 8,400 to 8,300.

Offaly also seen a decrease of 100 from 8,800 to 8,700.

5,200 fewer people will receive the payment in total across Ireland.

33,400 people will get the payment for the last time as they are returning to work.

In total, the Department of Social Protection will pay just under 580,000 people tomorrow, at a cost of over 200 million euro.

Minister Regina Doherty says the indications are the numbers receiving the pandemic unemployment payment will now fall as the country gradually reopens.

She also says that as we gradually move through the phases of reopening our society, we need to now review the nature of the payment.

The main sectors in which people are returning to work are Construction with 12,700 workers back.

In Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor vehicles and motorcycles, 5,500 have returned to work and 3,700 have returned to their jobs in the Manufacturing sector.