Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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48. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on ending discrimination against young unemployed people in terms of jobseekers’ payment rates in Budget 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37525/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Age-related rates apply to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 years to prevent long-term welfare dependency by encouraging participation in training and employment programmes. Where a young jobseeker participates in approved full-time education or training, they will receive the standard weekly maximum rate of payment of €232. If they participate on the Work Placement Experience Programme the weekly rate increases up to €335. There were approximately 9,600 young jobseekers on age related rates in August 2024.

My 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. Over 2,000 places have been reserved for young people in the updated Pathways to Work strategy on Tús/Community Employment. The Department continues to be proactive in ensuring that places are filled by young jobseekers, where appropriate. At the end of June 2024, 1,956 participants on Community Employment (CE) Schemes and 724 participants on Tús, were aged under 30 years. Targeting at least 40% of Work Placement Experience Programme places per annum until end 2025, will be taken up by young people. At the end of June 2024, 47 per cent (523 participants) of total Work Placement Experience participants were aged under 30 when commencing the scheme. Additional measure includes providing early access to the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy for employers who a hire young jobseeker under the age of 30 and hosting bespoke Job Promotion events for young jobseekers to highlight potential career pathways, including apprenticeship and training options.

Any changes to weekly social protection rates will be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.