Social Welfare Benefits Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Questions (381, 382)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

381. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare recipients who have been subject to a penalty rate in each of the following years, 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; the number of social welfare recipients aged 18-25 years who have been subject to a penalty rate in each of the following years, 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26046/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

382. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons social welfare recipients have been subject to a penalty rate in each of the following years, 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26047/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.

Legislation provides that sanctions/penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where recipients of jobseeker payments fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person's circumstances.

Total numbers of penalty rates applied by year, to end May 2014, are indicated in the following table, including a breakdown for jobseekers aged 18-25 years. Penalty rate figures given previously have been revised based on a more accurate and complete database which has been compiled.

Penalty rates started in the year by age at start of period

All	All	Start of Penalty	Start of Penalty	Start of Penalty	Start of Penalty
-	-	2011	2012	2013	To end May 2014
18-25	3,743	215	776	1,691	1,061
All	7,347	359	1,519	3,395	2,074

Question No. 383 answered with Question No. 371.

Question No. 384 answered with Question No. 316.

Question No. 385 withdrawn.