More than 45,000 people in Galway have availed of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment since it was introduced a year ago.
The latest figures from the Department of Social Protection show that Galway still has the third highest level of people on PUP.
Payments have been made to 24,563 people in Galway this week, a decrease of just over 400 on the week prior.
In total, 45,994 people here have been in receipt of pandemic unemployment at some point in the past year. While the numbers spiked going into 2021 as we re-entered lockdown, they still remain below the peak of 33,132 seen last May.
In the past year, the government has made payments totalling €6.3 billion under the PUP scheme, going to a total of 854,236 people.
This week, there are 456,580 people on the pandemic unemployment scheme, a decrease of 8,280 seen in the past week.
Minister Heather Humphreys said “A year on since the start of the pandemic, it is only right that we reflect on the hurt and devastation that has been felt by people who lost friends or loved ones due to the pandemic.”
“Thousands of lives were lost; hundreds of thousands of people found themselves without employment, often for their first time in their working lives.”
She said that the solidarity shown since last March has been key part of efforts to “mitigate the worst effects of the virus” while supporting frontline healthcare staff.
“I am immensely proud of the efforts of my Department’s staff since last March when they mobilised quickly to introduce the PUP in a matter of days.”
“I also want to pay tribute to our customers for their co-operation and understanding as we implemented these new schemes and measures to provide them with supports during these difficult times.”
The worst hit sector of the economy has been for unemployment has been Accommodation and Food Service Activities, where 170,272 people have availed of PUP.
This is followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (143,779), Construction (108,376), and Administrative and Support Service Activities (71,329).
