Almost 4 in 10 people getting the Covid-19 unemployment payment were earning less than 300 euro a week before the outbreak.
Just under 600 thousand people are claiming the payment.
A report by the Department of Business - seen by the Irish Times - shows that 38% of those in receipt of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment payment were earning less than €300 per week before they lost their jobs as a result of the virus.
The payment is worth €350 per week.
This means around 200 thousand people are better of unemployed than they are working.
Many of these were working part-time in the hospitality industry.
The sustainability of the payment is a concern for Government, however, it's been accepted by the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance that it will need to be extended beyond its initial June expiry date.
