Thousands have received new pay-related jobseeker's benefit since launch last month
A new jobseeker's benefit linked to their previous pay was rolled out from March 31.
Those who have paid at least five years of PRSI are entitled to a weekly payment worth 60pc of their earnings – capped at €450 – for the first 13 weeks out of work.
A spokesperson at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said about 2,500 people were awarded the payment within the first two weeks of its launch.
It has also been revealed that there was no major spike in redundancies notified to the Government in January and February this year – despite the expectation of US tariffs.
Figures for last month are not yet available, but the latest data shows employers flagged 2,029 potential redundancies to Enterprise Minister Peter Burke in January and February. This is lower than 2,545 notifications of potential collective redundancies in the same months last year.
Siptu research officer Michael Taft said the number of people that have received pay-related benefit is not surprising.
'There may be closures or job reductions, but people are able to find a job pretty quickly when the labour market is tight,' he said. 'The high churn means there is still low unemployment because people are not staying on unemployment benefit that long.'
He said the national unemployment figure has been falling consistently over a number of years.
'It's a welcome development that they are introducing this pay-related benefit,' he said.
'However, Irish pay-related benefit for unemployment is very weak in comparison to other EU countries.
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'You will find in other European countries, for average earners it can reach as high as 70pc of their previous earnings and can last a lot longer.'
He said it means household incomes do not 'fall off a cliff' in the event of a job loss, and there is a reduced impact on the 'shops down the street' in terms of consumer spending.
Mr Taft said linking the benefit with pay prevents households falling into debt and means those who are unemployed do not have to take the first job that comes along.
'During the recession, you had highly skilled people taking up jobs in burger joints, which was really of no value to the economy,' he said.
However, he believes the payment rate should not fall until nine months have passed, and would like to see pay-related maternity and paternity benefit.
'There are two main stresses in the workplace,' he said. 'Will I have enough money in retirement and what will happen to me and my family if I became long-term ill? The State can devise programme to take away those stresses.'
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