The number of people dependent on social welfare income supports has soared to over 700,000. That is according to the latest figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Last Friday, payments were issued to 507,000 recipients of the €350 per week Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment, which is up from 283,000 a week ago.
These payments are in addition to the 205,000 people on the Live Register receiving "standard" non-Covid-19 -related Jobseeker's Benefit of €203.
This means that a total of 712,000 people are receiving income supports, with 507,000 signing on since 16 March when the Covid-19 Pandemic payment was announced.
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