Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage

 

11:35 am

Photo of Feargal QuinnFeargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes.

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 11, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:
"10. The Minister shall, as soon as practicable, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a report on the measures taken to ensure that the €32 million being deducted through reduced social welfare payments for the 18 to 26 year age group would be ring fenced and re-invested in productive targeted education, training and activation measures to maximise young people’s opportunities in this age cohort for work, now and in the future.".
Senator Healy Eames asked me to support her yesterday and I agreed to do so.

The amendment seeks to ring-fence the money the State will save by reducing the jobseeker's payments to those aged under 26 for education and training programmes for them. It is a sensible, logical and worthy proposal. Money saved on this basis should be spent to encourage, develop and train those who will lose out otherwise. It is worthy of support and I urge the Minister to accept it.

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