Minster Doherty speculated the number of impacted workers could be "as drastic" as 500,000.
Fifty-eight-thousand people have applied for a special Covid 19 jobseekers payment so far.
The Department of Social Protection says forty-three-thousand applications have already been processed.
It's also been announced that social welfare payments will now be made every two weeks.
The reimbursement will be transferred into the employer’s bank account by Revenue, generally on the next banking day following the submission of the payroll details. There is a streamlined and web based application process for the payment. @welfare_ie #COVID19ireland
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) March 19, 2020
Minister Regina Doherty said the modeling for the number of workers likely to be impacted changes daily, with different industries being impacted every day.
She added the number of impacted workers could be "as drastic" as 500,000 - but that they'll do everything they can to ensure anyone who needs income support gets it.
