Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1185. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons under the age of 25 years living in homeless accommodation will be awarded the full independent jobseeker’s allowance rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41395/21]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to persons under the age of 25 years in homeless accommodation (details supplied) not being awarded the full independent jobseeker’s allowance despite paying their own service charges, meals, shopping, laundry and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41396/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1185 and 1186 together.

Reduced rates for young Jobseekers allowance recipients, currently paid at €112.70 per week, were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and avoid long term welfare dependency.

If a young jobseeker, on a reduced payment participates on an education or training programme, they receive the maximum personal weekly rate for Jobseeker’s Allowance of €203. Where a young jobseeker participates on the new Work Placement Experience Programme their weekly rate of payment will increase to €306. This new programme will provide jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than six months with quality work experience to increase their prospects of returning to employment.

Reduced rates do not apply to Jobseekers under 25 years of age who have qualified children or those who were in care of the HSE immediately before they turned 18.

A person aged between 18 and 24 is also entitled to an exemption from the reduced rates if they are living independently of the family home and are in receipt of state housing supports. They must be in receipt of either rent supplement, housing assistance payment (HAP), Rent Accommodation Scheme (RAS), local authority housing or living permanently in accommodation provided by a local authority approved housing body to qualify for an exemption from the reduced rates.

My Department engages in inter-agency responses to homelessness through its engagement with Tusla, the HSE and non-Government organisations to provide the necessary support to all vulnerable people including young people who are experiencing homelessness or are in insecure situations.

The appropriate response given the complexity of the issues that may be involved in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy is that these cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Young people in these circumstances should contact the Community Welfare Service in the local intreo centre where they can access support under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme which may include supplements – depending on the specific circumstances involved.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy at this time.