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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was stopped in 2022

Social Protection Expenditure was €58.4 billion in 2022

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Ireland spent a total of €11,143 per person on social protection in 2022 - higher than the EU average of €9,636.

Business • 20 Dec 23

Workers who received Covid income supports were more likely to have changed jobs in the past two years, according to the CSO

80% of PUP, WSS recipients still working in Q2 2022

More than 80% of workers who received pandemic supports were still in PAYE employment by the middle of this year, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 01 Nov 22

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions

Man arrested over fraud charges released

A man in his 20s arrested in connection with fraud charges - including a false claim of around €49,500 from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment - has been released.

Ireland • 15 Jul 22

The seasonally adjusted Live Register total for April stood at 177,100, down 3,900 from March

Live Register figures fall by 3,900 in April - CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for April stood at 177,100, down 3,900 from March.

Business • 09 May 22

The Government finances showed a surplus of €3.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021

Government surplus of €3.5 billion for fourth quarter

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show the Government finances had a surplus of €3.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021 after a series of deficits since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business • 21 Apr 22

Over €9.1 billion has been paid out in PUP payments since the support was introduced

Numbers on PUP down almost 8,000 in past week

The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has dropped by just under 8,000 in the past week to 67,434.

Business • 08 Feb 22

A total of 237,141 people were on the Live Register or getting PUP in January, the latest CSO figures show

Live Register and PUP numbers up 3.3% in January - CSO

There was a 3.3% increase in the combined number of people on the Live Register or receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in January, according to the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 04 Feb 22

The PUP is open to new entrants who lose their jobs due to the current Covid-19 restrictions

Cost of Pandemic Unemployment Payment passes €9bn

The Department of Social Protection said it issued weekly payments to 57,603 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, an increase of 2,267 on last week.

Business • 23 Dec 21

Spending on restaurants and hotels slumped by €6.5 billion due to Covid curbs

Spending on goods and services down €10 billion - CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that more than 870,000 individuals availed of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from March 2020 up to the end of August 2021.

Business • 20 Dec 21

8,961 people working in the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector are getting the PUP

Retail sector workers highest PUP recipients

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that 53,088 people were in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, down from 54,824 the previous week.

Business • 07 Dec 21

Paul Wyse, Managing Director of Professional Services at Smith & Williamson

Profits below pre-pandemic levels for most law firms

Two thirds of law firms are reporting turnover and profits below pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report by professional services and wealth management firm Smith & Williamson.

Business • 29 Nov 21

The CSO said the unadjusted Live Register total stood at 165,671 in October

Live Register figures down 9.4% in October - CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the total number of people on the Live Register or receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment decreased by 9.4% to 239,390 over the month to October.

Business • 05 Nov 21

Once again, the largest reduction of 2,662 was recorded in the accommodation and food services sector

Numbers on PUP drop to new pandemic low

The overall number of people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen to just under 78,000 this week - its lowest level to date.

Business • 04 Nov 21

The number of people on the Live Register in September stood at 162,898, new CSO figures show

Live Register figures continue to fall in September

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show the total number of people on the Live Register or receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment decreased by 18.2% to 264,086 over the month to September.

Business • 08 Oct 21

A total of 101,470 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, a fall of 4,775 on last week

Numbers on PUP fall to new pandemic low

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that the overall number of people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has now fallen to just over 101,000 this week - its lowest level to date.

Business • 06 Oct 21

The unemployment rate fell to new pandemic low of 10% in September from 12.4% in August, new CSO figures show

Jobless rate, including Covid-19 payouts, falls to 10%

The country's unemployment rate, including people receiving temporary Covid-19 jobless benefits, fell to a new pandemic low of 10% in September from 12.4% in August, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today.

Business • 06 Oct 21

Weekly payments valued at €27.5m were given to 106,245 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment last week

PUP numbers see 33rd weekly fall in a row

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that the number of people who received the weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payment fell again for the 33rd week in a row.

Business • 28 Sep 21

Retail Excellence said a lot of people left the industry during the height of the Covid crisis

Retailers urge faster PUP wind-down to address staffing

The Government has no plans to change its schedule for unwinding the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

Business • 24 Sep 21

In line with the Government's Economic Recovery Plan, the PUP is gradually reducing over a six month period

PUP numbers down almost 4,000 on last week

The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has dropped to 110,700, down 3,842 on last week.

Business • 21 Sep 21

Students returning to college are no longer entitled to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment

PUP numbers fall by over 25,500 on college return

The number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has fallen to 114,600 this week, a drop of 25,526.

Business • 15 Sep 21

Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates will be cut by €50 this week

Govt delays PUP move to Jobseekers payments until Oct

The Government has said that no recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be transitioned to Jobseeker payments before October 22.

Business • 07 Sep 21

The Covid-19 adjusted unemployment rate peaked at 31.5% last April, according to CSO figures

Over 1.3m people have received Covid income support

More than 1.3 million people received one or more of the Government's Covid-19 income supports by the middle of this year, according to data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which aims to give an overview of the impact of the virus on the country over the past 18 months.

Business • 03 Sep 21

The jobless rate, when adjusted to include those on the PUP, stood at 12.4% in August, down from 13.5% in July

Jobless rate including Covid-19 payouts falls to 12.4%

The unemployment rate, when adjusted to include those on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, stood at 12.4% in August.

Business • 01 Sep 21

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says Budget 2022 will focus on housing issues

Housing to form 'centrepiece' of October's Budget

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said that October's budget will have housing as its centrepiece as the Government seeks to implement its new "Housing for All" plan.

Business • 01 Sep 21

The number of people getting PUP fell by about 6,000 to stand at over 143,600 last week

Numbers on PUP continue to fall as economy re-opens

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.

Business • 01 Sep 21