Up to 500,000 could now be seeking unemployment benefits

It's thought up to half a million people could now be seeking unemployment benefits because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

The latest Live Register figures - which include part time, seasonal and casual workers - are due out in the next hour.

182,000 people were claiming unemployment benefits in February this year. 

But a report from Goodbody estimates that could have jumped by around 300,000 in March - setting a new record.

That would mean around a fifth of the working population are claiming some form of unemployment benefit.