ESRI: Government may not need to borrow billions more despite lockdown; PUP bill tops €6bn Extended lockdown will mean that unemployment will not return to its pre-pandemic level of below 5% 'until at least 2023', mainly because the shutdown of building sites has lasted longer than most anticipated People walk along a near empty Grafton Street in Dublin. The extended lockdown will mean that unemployment will not return to its pre-pandemic level of below 5% 'until at least 2023. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Tue, 23 Feb, 2021 - 00:05 Eamon Quinn The Government was given some welcome news as a leading expert predicted it may not automatically need to borrow many billions more this year despite the level 5 lockdown extending longer than anticipated.