Close to €251 million was spent on Covid-19 income supports in the Northern Sound region last year.
Co Cavan accounted for the largest spend locally, with supports worth almost €131 million.
The Department of Social Protection has released a report on the expenditure of schemes administered by the Department - including those introduced as part of the Government's response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The total Social Welfare expenditure in 2020 was almost €30.6 billion, an increase of €9.7 billion on the previous year.
Nationwide, over 1.2 million people were supported for at least one week by a Covid-19 income support scheme in 2020, at a cost of €8.9 billion euro.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment accounted for almost 60% of this, at €5.1 billion.
Locally, Co Cavan had the biggest spend, receiving €130.7 million for covid-19 income supports.
Meanwhile, €120.2 million went to Co Monaghan for these supports.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says the report "details the scale of the impact of Covid-19 on the economy in Ireland".
