The number of people receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has fallen slightly for the first time since it was launched on 16 March.
589,000 people will receive the €350 payment this week, a decrease of 9,000 compared to last week. However, it is believed that some of the fall is due to employers re-hiring workers to avail of the Government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
This week's PUP payments will cost €206.3m, with 8,700 receiving the payment for the first time. These payments are in addition to the 214,700 people on the Live Register receiving 'standard' Jobseeker's Benefit of €203 per week at the end of April.