DUBLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The resumption of indoor service
in Irish restaurants and bars pushed the number of people
claiming temporary COVID-19 jobless benefits down 15% in the
last week, the largest fall since the economy's third and
longest lockdown began to be unwound.
Just over 163,000 people received the payment for those who
lost their jobs due to one of Europe's toughest lockdown
regimes, which saw restrictions reimposed in late December
before the gradual reopening of most sectors over the last four
months.
Ireland's unemployment rate stood at 18.3% at the end of
June, including the then 228,000 recipients of the Pandemic
Unemployment Payment.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Jon Boyle)