The total direct expenditure as a result of Covid-19 between February 2020 and 2021 was €17.1 billion, according to the annual report published today from the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Of this spending, 90% came from the Departments of Social Protection, Health, Enterprise and Housing & Local Government.
The Department of Social Protection spent €11.1 billion with the Pandemic Unemployment payment (PUP) accounting for €6.1 billion or more than half (55%) of that spend, and the temporary wage subsidy scheme (TWSS) and its successor scheme the employment wage subsidy scheme (EWSS) accounting for 43% with a combined spend of €4.8 billion.