An increase in Dole payments for those under the age of 26 may happen. Tánaiste Joan Burton has announced that there will a review of the current social welfare payment rates. The review will focus on Dole payments received by those under the age of 26.
Jobseeker’s allowance is currently means tested. The maximum rate for people aged 26 years and over is €188. 25 -year-olds receive €144 per week. People that are aged 18-24 currently receive up to €100 per week. Labour Youth opposed the cut to social welfare payments for those under 26 since its introduction in the 2014 Budget.
National Chairperson, Grace Williams, said: “Age-based discrimination should not be allowed to continue. While I acknowledge that many young people are now securing jobs because the Government has turned the economy around, I believe that we should be included in the national recovery to an even greater extent. To this end, Labour Youth will continue to fight to see Jobseeker’s for under 26s increased. However, we welcome the engagement that we have received on the issue from Tánaiste Joan Burton and from the entire parliamentary Labour Party”.