The latest Redundancy Payment Scheme figures published on gov.ie offer a useful snapshot of how employer redundancy claims in Ireland have shifted over time. Released by the Department of Social Protection, the updated statistics show a notable fall from the peak levels seen during major economic shocks, while also highlighting month-by-month activity in 2026.
The publication, updated on 4 August 2026, tracks applications received under the Redundancy Payment Scheme from 1995 through to 2026. For employers, workers, policymakers and labour market observers, the numbers help explain how business closures, restructuring and employment pressures evolve across the wider Irish economy.
Redundancy Payment Scheme statistics show lower volumes than crisis-era peaks
The newest data confirms that redundancy applications remain far below the extreme highs recorded during the financial crisis. In 2009, applications under the scheme reached 77,001, before easing to 58,731 in 2010 and 49,762 in 2011. By contrast, more recent years are significantly lower, reflecting a very different labour market environment.
From 2016 onward, annual totals have generally stayed within a narrower range:
- 2016: 4,372
- 2017: 3,056
- 2018: 2,845
- 2019: 2,429
- 2020: 4,157
- 2021: 2,017
- 2022: 1,778
- 2023: 2,099
- 2024: 2,649
- 2025: 2,319
- 2026 so far: 1,728
The 2020 rise stands out, with 4,157 applications received during the height of pandemic-related disruption. Since then, totals have moderated again, suggesting a more stable redundancy picture overall, although monthly fluctuations remain important.
What the 2026 monthly figures reveal
For 2026, the Redundancy Payment Scheme data currently covers January to July. The monthly totals are:
- January: 170
- February: 147
- March: 181
- April: 456
- May: 256
- June: 229
- July: 289
April was the busiest month so far in 2026, with 456 applications, well above the earlier months of the year. That kind of spike can often reflect concentrated restructuring activity in specific sectors rather than a broad-based deterioration across the economy.
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How this gov.ie data matters for workers, employers and state bodies
Although the dataset is published by the Department of Social Protection, it also has wider relevance across the public sector. Organisations and readers tracking developments through Revenue Commissioners, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the Department of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Finance can use these figures to understand pressure points in employment trends.
The statistics are also valuable for comparing redundancy activity with broader indicators from the CSO, business support developments linked to Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and household impacts that may feed into policy discussions around Housing, Health and Social Protection.
Key takeaways from the long-term trend
- Redundancy applications are dramatically below recession-era highs.
- 2020 remains a clear outlier in recent years.
- 2026 has shown some monthly volatility, especially in April.
- The broader trend suggests a relatively contained redundancy environment compared with historic peaks.
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Conclusion
The updated Redundancy Payment Scheme release on gov.ie shows that while redundancies continue to occur across the economy, application levels remain far beneath the extraordinary volumes seen during Ireland’s major downturn years. For anyone monitoring employment conditions, the Redundancy Payment Scheme data remains a practical indicator of how business stress and workforce change are unfolding in real time.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
