Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the criteria and circumstances her Department uses to determine if a jobseeker should be subject to a sanction in the form of a reduced welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50416/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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To qualify for a Jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including suspension, disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. In relation to activation, further sanctions in the form of reduced welfare payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where clients fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group, or individual meetings and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.