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The first drop in numbers claiming Covid-19 welfare payments has been attributed to people who return to work and instead use the wage subsidy scheme.
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty says that as the country moves forward on the roadmap to exit the blockade, it is to be expected that certain sectors of society will begin to reopen now or soon.
“Today we see a slight drop in the number of people receiving pandemic unemployment payments as the number who leave the scheme, mainly to go to the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme, is now greater than the number of new participants.
“We now have a very clear view of the peak of the challenge we are currently facing.
“Hopefully the direction of travel from now on remains positive.
“As we move forward with the government’s gradual reopening of society, as we look at the recently released guide to returning to work, we can expect certain sectors of the labor market to gradually reopen and more people to close their applications for assistance.” “
New figures show that 589,000 people will receive their € 350 weekly Covid-19 wellness payment today, at a cost of € 206m.
But this is a 9,000 drop, the first decline in the number of people seeking emergency assistance since the plan began in March.
Of the numbers they claim, about 8,700 receive a payment for the first time.
The Doherty department also released the latest figures on the wage subsidy scheme, which is accessed by some 53,000 employers across the country.
It covers 456,200 people so far. This is an increase of 427,400 taking advantage from April 30.
Ms. O’Doherty added: “However, there will be no quick return to work for everyone and the nature of the virus is such that we will not be able to re-ignite the economy the same way we do. in sleep mode.
“My department will continue to support those who cannot return to work while simultaneously working on effective plans for the post-pandemic environment to retrain, revitalize, and re-employ all those who have been disrupted by this unprecedented health emergency. ” ”
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