Number of people receiving PUP soars by 15,000 in a week

The figures have increased following last week's decision to move the border counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan to level four

With Cabinet meeting today to discuss further coronavirus restrictions, the cost of the PUP could be set to rise again. File Picture: Larry Cummins

The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has increased by more than 15,000 in the last week.

There are now 244,153 people receiving the PUP payment, an increase of 15,295 week-on-week.