Covid unemployment fallout is expected to last until 2025 

Irish income support schemes almost certain to be extended as Department of Finance predicts prolonged pandemic scarring

Paschal Donohoe, the finance minister, reiterated that there would no sudden end to income supports which had been due to expire at the end of June. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Unemployment won't fall back to pre-Covid pandemic levels until at least 2025, making it almost certain that income supports will be extended for a good deal longer, according to new official forecasts.  

The projections by the Department of Finance prepared for the EU Commission suggest that the economy will be facing prolonged fallout or scarring from the Covid crisis even when the vaccine rollout is completed some time this year.