More than 157,000 remain on pandemic unemployment payment

More than 150,000 people remain on special pandemic unemployment payments, over a third of them workers from the hospitality and retail/wholesale trades, latest figures show.

Of the 157,712 recipients this week — paid a total of €46.7 million — almost 34,000 were from the hospitality sector and almost 25,000 had been working in retail or wholesale.

Just over 18,000 were working in administration and support services.

Arnold Dillon, director of Retail Ireland, which represents the industry, said a "significant" number of shops have yet to fully reopen despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

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“While the numbers of retail workers in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) has fallen dramatically over recent months, there are still a significant number of retail businesses that have yet to fully reopen and return to pre-pandemic trading levels,” he said.

“Many are operating reduced opening hours with a reduced workforce, typically due to reduced footfall in key retail districts. The problem in Dublin city centre is particularly pronounced.”

Mr Dillon said as office workers and tourists return so footfall will increase “and we will hopefully see another sustained reduction of those in receipt of the PUP”.

There were almost 13,000 people working in construction, 9,000 in manufacturing and almost 8,000 in “other sectors” including the likes of hairdressing and beauty salons also in receipt of the payments this week.

The numbers in receipt of the PUP are in addition to the 184,213 people who were signing on the live register at the end of July.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys warned people to close their claim for the PUP on the actual date when they return to work.

“It is very encouraging to see more and more people returning to work every week,” she said.

“Over 325,000 people have come off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment since February and with many businesses actively advertising for and hiring new staff, I expect this strong trend to continue throughout August.”

The Department of Social Protection said it "will take steps to recover" any overpayments of the PUP.

It is carrying out checks on claims against Revenue records, bank account use, tip-offs from employers and the public as well as using data analytics.

More than 20 gardaí are working with the department’s special investigation unit, which is carrying out the checks.