I propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 875 together.
Expenditure of €3,994 million was incurred on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) up to week ending Friday, 6th November 2020.
Further expenditure of circa €1.1 billion could be incurred between now and end of year. Level 5 restrictions have given rise to an increase in the weekly numbers receiving PUP. A total of 329,991 will receive a PUP payment this week, at a cost of €95.5 million, up from 295,860 recipients last week at a cost of €85.7 million. The precise amount will be dependent on the impact of Level 5 restrictions continues to have on numbers of people receiving PUP.
The 2021 Budget estimate published on Budget Day provided for €697.1 million in 2021.