Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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400. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [22799/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing the Increase for a Qualified Child by €1 for children under 12 years of age is €11.8m.

The estimated full year cost of increasing the Increase for a Qualified Child by €1 for children aged 12 and over is €4.4m.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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401. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22800/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments is €75.99 million as shown in the table below.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [22801/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Age-related reduced rates apply to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 years and were introduced to prevent long-term welfare dependency by encouraging participation in training and employment programmes.

Budget 2024 increased the maximum personal rate for a young adult to €141.70 per week from January 2024.

There were 9,345 jobseekers on age related reduced rates in April 2024. The estimated full-year cost of increasing the current reduced jobseeker’s rate by €1 per week is approximately €485,940 based on the current number of recipients.

The Department's focus is on supporting and improving the capacity of young people to take up employment, education and training opportunities to help them enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income. If a young jobseeker participates in education or training, they receive up to the full rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance of €232. If they participate on the Work Placement Experience Programme the weekly rate increases to €335.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.