Figures from the Department of Social Protection released last night show that the number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment stood at 143,606 with €42.5m being paid this week.
This is a reduction of about 6,000 compared to last week with the greatest fall seen in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.
"Thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and the efforts made by people all over the country in observing public health guidelines the Government was able to publish its Roadmap for the relaxation of all restrictions between now and October," Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said.
"This is very positive news and we expect to see even more people return to work in the coming weeks," she added.
The Department also reminded workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on the actual date that they start back at work.
This will ensure that their claim is processed correctly and to avoid incurring an overpayment that the Department will take steps to recover.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Government will do further work in relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), adding that it plans to be reduced for everyone.
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, the Minister said that some special arrangements will be made for those sectors that may continue to be adversely affected for a short period of time in advance of October 22.
He said the payment was an emergency measure and was never intended to be an ongoing feature of the country's social support system.
Minister Donohoe said the payment supported the income of the most vulnerable who lost jobs through no fault of their own.
He pointed out that there was once over 600,000 people on the PUP but there are now just over 150,000 people receiving it.
Mr Donohoe said he hopes that all constraints that currently prevent all parts of the economy from re-opening will be gone by the middle of October.
If we reach a point where we need to go into reverse, we will outline the Government's decision then, he said.
