Over 3,400 in Westmeath still on PUP

The number of people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in Westmeath fell by 25 in the last week, figures released by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, have revealed.

On September 22, there were 3,426 people in receipt of a PUP in Westmeath; today, September 29, there are 3,401 on the list.

The September 15 figure was 3,572.

The numbers have fallen significantly: on May 5, there were 11,700 in Westmeath receiving a PUP.

Nationally, this week, there are 217,142 in receipt of a PUP, involving a cost for this week alone of €61.9m. On May 5, the number of people receiving a PUP stood at 598,000.

The sector worst affected is that of accommodation and food service activities, which accounts for 51,840 of the total, followed by the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles which accounts for a further 30,950 people.

Illness benefit certs

Meanwhile, the number of people medically certified for receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit is rising: on September 15, the Westmeath figure stood at 1,107; on September 22 it was at 1,146, and the figure for September 29 is 1,168.

Since September 2020, approximately 6,164 people have been medically certified for meeting the conditions for receipt of a Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment – including 77 from Westmeath - and some 435 of these were diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Infections

The latest number of infections shows that to date, 767 people in Westmeath have contracted the virus.