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.
These figures are in addition to the 164,626 people who were on the Live Register at the end of November. Today's figures show that the total cost of payments issued under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week passed the €9 billion level.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys recently announced that the PUP is open to new entrants who lose their jobs due to the current Covid restrictions.
Since Tuesday December 7, PUP has re-opened for workers who have been impacted by the latest restrictions and measures to slow down the spread of the Covid virus.