Almost €12bn rolled out through pandemic support payments in past year

More than half of the €11.5bn was paid out via the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme as the country’s jobless rate skyrocketed due to the impact of the pandemic on businesses

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys: 'The PUP has supported hundreds of thousands of workers, protecting them from a sudden shock to their incomes.'
 

The Government has paid out almost €12bn in support payments since the onset of the Covid crisis a year ago, new figures from the Department of Social Protection show.

More than half of the €11.5bn was paid out via the Pandemic Unemployment Payment – or PUP – scheme as the country’s jobless rate skyrocketed due to the impact of the pandemic on businesses.