Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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42. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will remove any penalties to social welfare recipients due to non-participation in labour activation schemes, in view of the National Youth Council of Ireland's report (details supplied), which found that of the 13.3% of respondents who felt compelled to participate in JobBridge 100% were dissatisfied with their experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9368/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The NYCI report recommended that penalties should not apply in the case of jobseekers who refuse to participate in the new First Steps employment programme. I note that this recommendation was derived from a small study of eighty self-selected respondents of whom just seven participated in a follow up structured interview.

Given its limitations this study cannot form the basis for any policy decisions.

The current arrangements are fair in my view and represent a good balance of rights and responsibilities. Therefore I do not propose to alter the conditions relating to the application of penalty payments.