It is estimated that the total cost of State income and wage supports in place to help those out of work or in danger of losing their jobs during the Covid-19 crisis could reach up to €4.5bn over three months.
According to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the package of measures for sick pay, illness benefit and supplementary benefit, including the initial Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 that was introduced on 9 March, was expected to cost up to €2.4bn.
Two weeks later, on 24 March, the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was also introduced and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was increased to €350 per week, alongside the Covid-19 Illness Payment, which also rose to €350 per week.