Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
112. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the penalty rate applied to young persons under 26 years in receipt of €100 on jobseeker's allowance; and the maximum duration of the penalty rate. [35560/14]
View answer113. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the penalty rate applied to young persons under 26 years in receipt of €144 on jobseeker's allowance; the maximum duration of the penalty rate. [35561/14]
View answer114. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the penalty rate applied to young persons under 26 years in receipt of €188 on jobseeker's allowance; the maximum duration of the penalty rate. [35562/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, 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.
Persons, irrespective of age, in receipt of a weekly personal rate of €188 jobseeker’s allowance have this rate reduced initially to €144.
Persons, irrespective of age, in receipt of a weekly personal rate of €144 jobseeker’s allowance have this rate reduced to €111.
Persons, irrespective of age, in receipt of a weekly personal rate of €100 jobseeker’s allowance have this rate reduced to €75.
If a person continues to fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures, while on a penalty rate, he/she may be disqualified from receiving the personal rate of payment. The normal rate of payment may be reinstated at any time, if the jobseeker complies, as requested, with activation measures.
