Due to their refusal to fully cooperate with attempts to obtain employment, nearly 10,200 jobless persons had their social welfare benefits decreased last year, reports Breaking News.
According to recent data released by the Department of Social Protection, several counties—such as Waterford, Limerick, Wexford, Louth, and Laois—have a higher percentage of jobseekers punished for not participating in employment activation programs.
They also show that last year, the number of job applicants impacted by lower social welfare rates nearly quadrupled, reports Breaking News.
In 2024, 10,232 jobless people had their social assistance benefits cut, down from 5,235 the year before, according to official data given in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.
Nonetheless, the Department of Social Protection said that lower rates were progressively implemented in 2023 following the suspension of social assistance payment reductions for jobless individuals due to the COVID-19 epidemic, reports Breaking News.
Speaking about the numbers, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary stated that his department was dedicated to encouraging people to take advantage of job opportunities through the Pathways to Work program, which included lowering rates “for non-engagement with the Intreo employment service.”
In an effort to incentivise job searchers to collaborate on efforts to secure employment, a cutback in social support payments to jobless individuals was implemented in 2011.
“Entitlement to a jobseeker payment is dependent on the recipient being available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work,” Mr Calleary said, reports Breaking News.
“This reflects the concept of ‘rights and responsibilities’ whereby people who are unemployed have the right to an income support from the State and a right to be supported in their efforts to secure employment, but also have a responsibility to seek employment and to engage with the employment services offered by the State,” reports Breaking News.
Mr. Calleary emphasised, however, that a lower rate was “a last step in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of employment supports on offer.”
The Minister emphasised that if a job seeker begins using the appropriate services, the lower cost is removed. once a jobseeker resumes engagement with relevant services, reports Breaking News.
“Whether a reduced rate applies and the duration of its application is totally within the control of the claimant,” he added, reports Breaking News.
According to Mr. Calleary, it was not feasible to give a detailed explanation of the reasons why jobseekers’ payments were subject to decreased rates.
More education, training, upskilling, and work placements are just a few of the many resources available to job seekers, the Minister noted, along with Community Employment programs and the Tús program.
According to the data, 3,356 Dublin residents had their jobseeker payment rates lowered last year, which is the greatest of any county in the most populous area, reports Breaking News.
Though Limerick (649), Cork (556), and Wexford (502) had the most jobless persons punished for not participating in employment activation programs, Waterford had the second-highest number (658).
Other counties that imposed quite large numbers of fines on job applicants were Longford (119), Laois (326), and Louth (441).
In contrast, a small number of jobseekers in a number of counties, notably Kildare (336), Donegal (237), Meath (198), and Kilkenny (44), were impacted by lower rates, reports Breaking News.
Those without jobs in Carlow (31), Sligo (32), and Roscommon (35), received the fewest punishments.
Mr. Farrelly commented on the numbers and cited the minister’s justification for the rise in the number of jobless people sanctioned the previous year, reports Breaking News.
It is crucial to keep in mind, though, that this could be because the department is still increasing its use of this technique after the epidemic.
Since there were significant percentage rises in some counties, the Kildare North TD stated that he planned to follow up with the minister to find out whether the measure was being ramped up in other regions of the nation.
However, Mr Farrelly also advised: “Having a reduced rate is a last option for the department and persons can work with employment services to avoid this occurrence,” reports Breaking News.
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