Around 3,000 individuals had their social welfare payments reduced in 2025 for failing to engage with jobseeker services, reports The Mirror.
This figure is in contrast to 10,200 people affected throughout all of 2024.
The information came in response to a parliamentary question from People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, directed to Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary, reports The Mirror.
The Fianna Fáil Minister stated that “entitlement to a jobseeker payment is dependent on the recipient being available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work”.
Mr Calleary added: “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. Intreo Employment Services supports jobseekers to find work and there are a wide range of supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements, as well as programmes such as Community Employment and TUS,” reports The Mirror.
He also pointed out that those not cooperating with Intreo services could face reduced benefits, with possible “disqualification from their payment for up to nine weeks”.
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In January, the weekly deduction amount was raised from €44 to €90. Mr Calleary confirmed that in the first quarter of 2025, 3,008 people experienced rate reductions, reports The Mirror.
This follows 10,232 reductions in 2024 and 5,235 in 2023. The numbers penalised in 2025 include 888 in March, 1,360 in February and 760 in January. February’s figure was a 169% increase from February 2024, which recorded 505 cases.
Minister Calleary continued: “Reduced rates were introduced as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage proactively with Intreo Employment Services to assist them find a pathway to employment,” reports The Mirror.
“A reduced rate is a final step in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of employment supports on offer and once a jobseeker resumes this engagement, the reduced rate is lifted immediately. Whether a reduced rate applies and the duration of its application is totally within the control of the claimant,” reports The Mirror.
Deputy Murphy expressed concern to the Irish Mirror about the “sharp increase in the number of people having their supports cut”.
He said: “We’re talking about people here who are trying to pay their bills, many trying to raise a family, while also facing the stress of being temporarily unemployed. They can’t afford these cuts. My office has also noticed an increased number of people contacting us because they’ve felt pressured into taking up so-called ‘internships’ and various ‘schemes’ which are not relevant or helpful for their careers. I am very worried that a Thatcherite agenda is being pursued here, squeezing people’s incomes and pushing into JobBridge 2.0 type scams,” reports The Mirror.
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