Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hope the Minister will address the fact. I am very concerned, especially given the previous record of concerns about how personal progression plans are applied, that we may have situations whereby we see cuts that affect people's ability to feed their family and keep their houses warm. I say that simply because the stakes can become very high. There is a very significant power imbalance between a person who is unemployed, for example, and what might be a commercial company that says it wants a person to take a certain job. We have tried to adapt language with the Minister previously to ensure there would be a reasonable offer and that there would be another offer. There are situations, for example, where people who become unemployed in January get pushed into a training course in March, but if they waited until the following September they could go back to college, which might be what is suitable for them. There have been serious concerns about people being pushed and feeling powerless and that they must accept inappropriate employment or training opportunities. We know that just creates a cycle where they fall out of that opportunity and then they come back in again. I am concerned that the stakes are being set too high and that we will end up with a whole category of persons – those who are on jobseeker's allowance – who feel they cannot say "No" to any suggestion in that regard. They will not be in a position where they are free to make the best choices for themselves in terms of education, training or employment because the food on their table could, literally, be at stake.