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Jobseeker's Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Questions (1216, 1217, 1218, 1219)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1216. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance to €196 for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €107.70 and €152.80 rates. [24549/18]

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Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1217. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance to €152.80 per week for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €107.70 rate. [24550/18]

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Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1218. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance to €196 per week for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €152.80 rate. [24551/18]

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Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1219. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the jobseeker's allowance rate for those under 26 years of age to the full payment rate of €196 will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24552/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1216 to 1219, inclusive, together.

The full year cost of increasing the weekly rate for jobseekers under the age of 26 from €107.70 and €152.80 to the maximum weekly rate of €198 would be €81.21 million in 2019. This includes the cost of increasing the qualified adult rate for those on the €107.70 rate to €131.40 per week.

The full year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance payment for 25 year olds on the €152.80 weekly rate to the maximum weekly rate of €198 per week would be €6.34 million in 2019.

The full year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance payment for 18-24 year olds on the €107.70 weekly rate to €152.80 per week would be €37.39 million in 2019. This includes the cost of increasing the qualified adult rate for those on the €107.70 rate to €131.40 per week.

It should be noted that these estimated costs are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019.

Lower weekly rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were introduced to protect young people from welfare dependency by providing them with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. Where a young jobseeker participates on an education or training programme they will receive the higher weekly rate of €198 which is the maximum personal rate for jobseeker’s allowance.

The reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance do not apply to 18 -25 year olds with a qualified child, those making a claim for jobseeker’s allowance where that claim is linked to a jobseeker’s allowance claim made within the previous 12 months to which the maximum personal rate applied, those transferring directly to jobseeker’s allowance from disability allowance, or young jobseekers on certain training programmes. The reduced rates also do not apply to 18-24 year olds who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the period of 12 months before they reached the age of 18.

The appropriate rate of all weekly social welfare payments, including the rate for young jobseekers, will be considered by the Government in the context of budgetary deliberations.

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