Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A solution might be something like the SWA where a person receives the SWA and then any moneys that are due to them are recouped via that. In circumstances like that, could it be the case that the Department of Social Protection would not take the deduction but wait for the refund to come through from the Revenue Commissioners? We need to bend over backwards to facilitate people regardless of whether they are in receipt of one parent family payment or jobseeker's allowance. There are stupid rules in the system that create barriers and that need to be taken out.

I will give another example. A constituent in Boyle in County Roscommon was put on a training course in the local jobs club through the social welfare office. There are 15 people on the course. He did not go in on Thursday to sign for his jobseeker's allowance. His payment was delayed for two days because he did not leave the course, go across the road, wait for whatever length of time he needed to wait and sign on. Consider the disruption that would have been caused in the class if every one of the 15 people on that course went across the road. There is no focus here on the education support if 15 people are going to cross the road to sign on the live register when it should be automatic. If someone is attending the course, they should not have to sign on. That type of link-up is not happening, which is discouraging people from actively participating in that course. Any teacher will ask how they are to teach a class if there are 15 disruptions in it per week. If some of those 15 people do not want to be there in the first place, it makes it even more difficult. We have silly rules, we are not using technology and linking up with the various agencies and we are creating false barriers against people accessing and maximising training or accessing part-time work that would hopefully develop into full-time and long-term work.