The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has said the "lack of clarity and detail" provided to the Dáil about the cost of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Temporary Work Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is a concern.
In a publication issued today, the PBO estimates the combined schemes could cost between €3.87 and €3.93 billion over a 12 week period.
It contrasts the €3.7 billion estimate given by the Government in late March and the €4-€4.5 billion estimate outlined in last week's Stability Programme update from the Department of Finance.
It also highlights that a vote in the Dáil will be needed by May or June to approve the revised spending to cover the pandemic payments.
This is because by that stage it is estimated that 80% of the previous year's net allocation will have been reached and that is the limit set by the rules.
It says the impact of Covid-19 on the economy is likely to be prolonged, even if businesses are able to reopen in June. Tourism, it notes, may be particularly badly affected.
The PBO also notes that workers under the TWSS have little incentive to apply for the Covid-19 Illness benefit.
This, it believes, may underestimate the prevalence of the virus in the workforce.
