Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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808. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to restore the full adult rate to persons under 26 years of age on jobseeker's allowance. [29761/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost to pay the full adult rate of €203 per week to persons under 26 years of age on Jobseeker's Allowance is €59.9 million.  This costing includes increasing the €112.70 qualified adult rate to €134.70 per week.

Young jobseekers who participate in an education, training or employment programme currently qualify for the maximum weekly rate of payment.  Age-related reduced rates of payment also do not apply in certain circumstances, such as when the claimant has a dependent child, or transferred to Jobseeker's Allowance from Disability Allowance, or was in State care during the 12 months prior to applying for Jobseeker's Allowance. 

It should be noted that any change to the reduced rates of Jobseeker's Allowance would need to be considered in a budgetary context.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.