The number of people in Kerry claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has fallen below the 10,000 mark.
This is according to the latest data from the Department of Social Protection.
This week (up to June 15th), 9,933 people in Kerry are getting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as they have lost their job due to the pandemic.
That's a decrease of 1,240 people compared to the previous week (11,173).
It reflects the further easing of COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality sector.
At the peak on May 4th last year, 22,217 people in Kerry were in receipt of PUP.
628 people in the county informed the department they were closing their PUP payment and returning to work this week; last week's figure was 924.
Up to June 15th, seven more Kerry people claimed the Enhanced Illness Benefit due to having COVID-19 or needing to self-isolate; the total number of people who have claimed this benefit in the county stands at 3,366.
