Pandemic Unemployment numbers in Galway fall below 24,000

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Galway Daily news Details announced for reopened Pandemic Unemployment scheme

The number of people receiving pandemic unemployment payments in Galway is continuing to slowly decline.

In the latest figures from the Department of Social Protection, there are 23,862 people receiving PUP in Galway this week, 324 fewer people than last week.

In the past week, 391 people in Galway have closed their PUP account with the Department on account of the fact that there were returning to work.

Also in Galway, there have been 8,501 people who have been medically certified for COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit to date, and increase of 97 in the past week.

Speaking today on the latest PUP figures, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said, “as the COVID-19 virus continues to affect all our lives, I want to reassure people that our department will continue to support people who are out of work due to the pandemic.”

“I know people are weary and frustrated with the ongoing restrictions. But we must realise that our vaccine rollout is ramping up and we expect one million vaccines per month to arrive in April, May and June.”

“So there is light at the end of the tunnel. But we need to continue our efforts and listen to our public health experts. Now is not the time to let our guard down.”

Nationwide the government is making pandemic unemployment payments totalling €132.25 million to 443,247 people this week, which is 6,274 fewer than last week.

These figures are in addition to the 186,702 people who were on the Live Register at the end of February.

The sector with the highest number of people receiving PUP this week is Accommodation and Food Service activities (107,043), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (71,099) and Construction (54,314).