Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will seek to amend the current situation in respect of age-related rates of jobseeker’s allowance for under-25-year-olds to bring them into line with rates of payment for those over 25 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15180/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Age-related rates for young Jobseeker's Allowance recipients were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and avoid long-term welfare dependency. Where a young jobseeker participates in approved full-time education or training they will receive the maximum rate of payment.

In Budget 2023, I announced an increase of all core social welfare payments by €12 per week including the age related Jobseeker's Allowance rate which has also increased by €12 to €129.70 per week for jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 years.

Supporting and improving the capacity of people to take up employment, education and training opportunities can enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income to support themselves and their families into the future. Young jobseekers will receive the maximum personal rate of €220 per week if they participate on an education or training programme. Furthermore, if they participate on the Work Placement Experience Programme, their weekly rate increases to €323.

The Pathways to Work strategy contains provisions for 50,000 additional further education and training places and the allocation of at least 1,000 out of the 3,000 new Community Employment and Tús places for young people. Additional places have also been provided on the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy, with the subsidy being available on an earlier basis than normal to employers when they recruit young people.

The aim of Pathways to Work 2021-2025 was to use these measures to reduce the youth unemployment rate back to or below the 2019 average of 12.5% by 2023. According to the latest CSO data, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for February 2023 is already below this target at 10.2%. Further work in this area will continue to support these young people.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.