Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The practice is that someone in receipt of jobseeker's benefit is not hassled to get work but the criteria and the rules are specifically that the person is capable of work and is available and genuinely seeking work. In the current climate, that is ridiculous. It is also an insult to the people who have that kind of service record. The State transition pension also disappeared. It was to allow people to retire at 65 and be paid a State allowance for the period until they qualify for the pension but is now gone. This is also related to the compensation the State gives in exchange from PRSI and jobseeker's benefit, which is set at €188. The contributory pension is €236 so there is a substantial weekly loss to the person of €48. That is substantial in the current climate, especially since people make provision on the basis of retiring and think they will be okay for the first year or second year. Most of the people who were severely worried are those with contracts that will end at the age of 65. That is their employment contract and unless the State starts to negotiate on their behalf that the contract will be extended - the State has not given any indication that it will ensure the contracts are extended to 66, 67 or 68 years - people who are forced to avail of jobseeker's benefit will incur substantial loss. Has that been calculated on the basis of the figures I am coming up with?