Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

10:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to a recent report in the mid-west which found that the cuts in social welfare to young people aged 18 to 24 years were contributing significantly to youth homelessness; if he will carry out a independent review of the policy to cut social welfare to young jobseekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29462/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the draft Mid-West Homeless Framework Plan, produced by the Mid-West Homeless Forum.

Receiving the full adult rate of a jobseekers payment without a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training can lead to welfare dependency. While many young people with low levels of education and training were able to get work in construction and other areas when the economy was doing well, they are likely to find it much harder to get work of the next few years. The measures referred to will encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills in order to avoid the risk of becoming long-term unemployed and will help them to progress into sustainable employment on a long-term basis.

In light of increased demand for training and education, the Government is now providing, through FÁS, a total of 128,000 training and activation places for the unemployed this year. This is a substantial increase on the approximate 66,000 places provided last year. There is a wide range of education and training opportunities available through my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and FÁS to jobseekers to support them in strengthening their qualifications and skills base and thereby maximising their chances of meeting the requirements of the modern labour market and gaining employment.

The measures referred to represent one element of ongoing reforms and enhancement of the national employment action plan and will work in tandem with changes in ministerial responsibility and other developments such as customer profiling and restructuring of agencies to deliver a better outcome for users of services and for the taxpayer

It may also be noted that the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides for a weekly supplement to meet specific needs such as rent and/or mortgage interest supplement, diet supplement, heating supplement, or a once-off payment to help with the cost of any exceptional needs a person may have which they could not reasonably be expected to meet from their own resources, such as support to those requiring assistance with a rent deposit. One of the most important supports provided to homeless people through the social welfare system is assistance with rent deposits to enable them to secure private rented accommodation.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the savings made by his Department as a result of the payment of reduced rates of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit to young persons under 25 years of age since 1 May 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29464/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated savings, based on the number of recipients at the end of May 2010, arising from the introduction of age related rates of jobseeker's allowance in May 2009 and January 2010, is €20.6m. No age related reductions was applied to the jobseeker's benefit scheme either in 2009 and 2010.

There are further savings which cannot be readily quantified arising from the fact that some persons who have means may not have qualified for any payment under the new arrangements.

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