Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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358. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering coordinating the relevant agencies in developing a youth guarantee tailored to assist at risk young persons to secure a home, education and work experience over a two year period. [25148/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to issues raised by Focus Ireland in relation to rates of jobseeker’s allowance for persons under the age of 25. The €100 rate of jobseeker’s allowance was introduced for claimants aged under 20 in April 2009, and this rate was applied to claimants aged up to 21 from December 2009. A rate of €144 applies to claimants aged 22-24.

The measures encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills and remain active in the labour market 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. Where a person is in receipt of a rate of jobseeker's allowance described above and he or she participates in a course of education, training a higher rate of €160 applies.

I met with Focus Ireland on 15 May, 2013 to discuss a number of issues in relation to homelessness, including the situation of young persons in receipt of reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance, and officials are in on-going contact with them in relation to their concerns. While the primary issue in this regard is a housing issue rather than one of income support, the Department of Social Protection has an important role in the delivery of solutions to homelessness. Generally, this role relates to income maintenance where homeless people have entitlements to the full range of social welfare schemes subject to the normal qualifying conditions, but the Department also engages in inter-agency responses to homelessness. In this context, the Department will continue to engage with Focus Ireland, and other actors, in relation to issues relating to rates of jobseeker’s allowance for persons under the age of 25.