An additional 340 people in Galway opened a claim for the pandemic unemployment payment in the last week, a situation one TD has described as "concerning".
Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairéad Farrell said the spike in numbers indicated that "more people are losing their jobs" resultinging "more people becoming reliant on this income". The increase in Galway reflects a trend across the State, with an increase of 7,500 people lodging a claim for PUP in the last seven days.
“This is deeply concerning," she said. "These job losses will mean more and more workers and families across the state are facing financial pressure and uncertainty as they try to make ends meet.”
Lack of clarity for workers
Dep Farrell pointed out that many of those now unemployed "have lost their jobs through absolutely no fault of their own", but as a result of the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic. However, she said the Government is "providing anything but certainty for these individuals".
The PUP is set to decrease and be ended completely by April 2021. People getting the payment will have to apply for a jobseeker’s allowance if they have not found work by that date. m“We must ensure that people who have lost their jobs," said Dep Farrell, "or who now face losing their jobs due to increased lockdown measures, are not abandoned by this Government.”
