Written answers

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Department of Social Protection

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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29. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that the payment of €100 to jobseeker's aged 18-24 years and €144 to 25 year olds is not discriminatory on grounds of age as per the Equality Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10471/14]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There were 300,590 recipients of jobseeker’s allowance at the end of December last and nearly €3.1 billion was spent on the scheme in 2013. Budget 2014 extended the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance to recipients under 26 years of age. This measure aims to incentivise young jobseeker’s allowance recipients to avail of education and training opportunities. Such rates in respect of younger jobseekers were first introduced in 2009.By extending the €100 jobseeker’s allowance rate to ages 22, 23 and 24 the changes provide that claimants in this age bracket will be €60 better off if they engage in education or training as they will then receive €160 per week. Persons aged 25, had previously been subject to no financial incentive measure, will now receive €144 per week. These individuals will generally be €16 better off if they engage in education or training as they will now receive €160 per week. The decision to reduce the amount of jobseeker’s allowance payable to young jobseekers was made on foot of on-going consideration of unemployment and activation policy by Government. The changes are not discriminatory but rather are targeted measures aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency.

I believe that it is necessary to provide young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If they do not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long term unemployed from a young age.

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