Over 900 workers in Galway have closed their Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims to return to work in the past week, the latest government figures show.
The overall the number of people in Galway receiving a payment today is 22,733, while nationally almost 421,000 workers are in receipt of the PUP this week.
Separately, over 90,000 people will receive an arrears payment of PUP today.
The sector with the highest number of people receiving PUP this week is Accommodation and Food Service activities (103,271), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (67,832) and Construction (48,933).
The Construction sector has seen the largest decrease in the number of people receiving PUP this week with 1,236 fewer people receiving the payment compared to last week.
48% of those in receipt of PUP are receiving the maximum rate of €350 this week.
Speaking about the latest PUP figures, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said that the efforts of the Irish people in suppressing this virus are having a really positive impact.
“We are again this week seeing a welcome reduction in Covid-19 cases, in hospitalisations and in ICU admissions,” said Minister Humphreys.
“If we continue to make this kind of progress, we will then be well-placed to consider a further easing of restrictions into May and June.
“These decisions will be considered closely by Cabinet next week.”
