More than 513,000 people are on the Live Register or receiving an income support payment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the the coronavirus crisis had a significant impact on the labour market during March.

The unadjusted Live Register total stands at 205,209 for last month - made up of 113,268 men and 91,941 women.

The seasonally adjusted total for March was 207,200, up 24,400 from February.

Source: CSO

On an adjusted basis, the number of men and women claimants were 113,268 and 91,941.

In the last week of March, 283,037 people were in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

While some 25,104 people were on the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.

This was made up of 135,931 men (48.0%) and 147,106 women (52.0%).

Of those claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, 65,057 were under 25 - while 217,980 were 25 years of age and over.

There were 25,104 ppeople benefitting from the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme with 12,472 men and 12,632 women.

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty briefing the media on business supports available in response to COVID-19 at Government Buildings, Dublin | Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie/Pool

Of these, 9,213 were under 25 and 15,891 were 25 years and older.

The CSO says it sees COVID-19 payments as short-term, with an expectation that after 12 weeks those in receipt of such payments may return to work or may be considered for jobseekers benefit or assistance.

Employment Affairs Minister Regina Doherty said the publication of the figures were a "stark reminder" of how much has changed in the space of a few weeks.

The data indicates that over 513,000 people are on the register or are receiving an income support payment from the department under the measures put in place over the past number of weeks.

Source: CSO

Minister Doherty said: "This it is perhaps the most unique Live Register data ever published by the CSO and reflects both the huge shock to the labour market arising from the public health measures to address the COVID pandemic and the statistical challenge faced by the CSO to accurately measure unemployment in these circumstances."

"When the last Live Register figures were published, in February, we recorded a further fall in the numbers and we were still talking about being technically at full employment.

"The COVID emergency has completely up-ended that narrative.

"The crucial challenge for the Government is that we don’t let what is a temporary health emergency become a permanent economic crisis."

The minister added that her department is continuing to process more claims from income support arising from temporary lay-offs due to public health measures announced last Friday.