According to the latest figures released by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, there are 1,200 more people in Mayo in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payments this week compared to last week.
The figures show that there are 16,100 people in the county in support of the payments, as of Monday, April 20 - an increase of 1,200 on the 14,900 that were in receipt of the payments at the same time last week.
There has also been an increase of 100 people receiving the enhanced illness payment this week with the number of recipients increasing from 600 to 700.
Nationally, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection issued payments to 584,000 people in respect of their application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Around 50,000 are receiving a payment for the first time.
These payments are in addition to the 212,000 people on the Live Register and over 46,000 employers have now registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy scheme.
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, stated: "Between our Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, those on the Live Register and workers who are benefitting from the wage subsidy scheme, over a million people are receiving some sort of state income support – a situation unparalleled in our nation’s history. This is a temporary health emergency and many sectors of the economy will be able to switch back on relatively quickly once the danger has passed.
"However, some sectors will be slower than others to recover and we will also have a challenge with youth employment as many young people who could have expected to have entered a buoyant jobs market will now face a much more complex environment. Understanding this, my Department is already planning for the post-pandemic environment and considering the best measures to help every worker to get back into the labour force as quickly as possible.”
