Written answers
Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Oireachtas Committees
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 19 October 2021, the date and content of correspondence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands; the reason the report does not have a public publication page on her Department’s website given that it appears to be accessible only as a pdf file at present; the reason the report is dated December 2020; the reason there are no recommendations to equalise current rates for young persons with standard jobseeker’s rates; the reason a report of just 20 pages required such a lengthy timeframe for compilation and consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55519/21]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A copy of the Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA) relating to jobseekers rates of payment for young people was issued for the attention of the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands on 21st July 2021. The correspondence advised that the assessment was carried out further to the requirement as set out in Part 2 Section 7 of the Social Welfare (No 2) Act 2019 and of the intention to publish the report on Gov.ie. The delay in finalisation of the report is due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the Department as a consequence of Covid-19.
A copy of the report is available on the Department's gov.ie collection page for impact assessments. This site provides context on the poverty impact assessment process and collates all such assessments in one place.
The date of the PIA is December 2020 because, although it was prepared using data from end of 2019, the arrival of the Covid-19 Pandemic has had significant economic and social impacts particularly for young people and updated information for 2020 was added to reflect this position.
The report notes that, prior to the onset of the pandemic, the overall package of measures introduced, including the age related reduced rates and activation measures, combined with the improved economy has been successful in reducing the number of young jobseekers on the live register. The research carried out by NUI Maynooth regarding unemployment durations for young people also clearly points to the position that the age related rates are a positive policy response to prevent long term welfare dependency.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
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