Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
1479. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average cost per young person and cost to the Exchequer in a calendar year of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €203 for all young persons under 26 years of age currently on the €112.70 and €157.80 lower rates of jobseeker's allowance payment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19715/19]
View answer1480. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average cost per young person and cost to the Exchequer in a calendar year of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €157.80 for all young persons aged 18 to 24 years of age currently on the €112.70 rate of jobseeker's allowance payment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19716/19]
View answer1481. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average cost per young person and cost to the Exchequer in a calendar year of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €180.40 for all young persons aged 25 years of age on the €157.80 lower rate of jobseeker's allowance payment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19717/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1479 to 1481, inclusive, together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are presented in the table following:
|
New Rate |
Average Cost per Young Person |
Full Year Cost |
|
€157.80 for 18-24 year olds |
€2,430 |
€27.76m |
|
€180.40 for 25 year olds |
€1,199 |
€ 2.14m |
|
€203.00 for Under 26s |
€4,532 |
€59.87m |
These costings includes increasing the €107.70 qualified adult rate to €131.40 per week.
Young jobseekers who participate in an education, training or employment programme currently qualify for the maximum weekly rate of payment. Age-related reduced rates of payment also do not apply in certain circumstances, such as when the claimant has a dependent child, or transferred to Jobseeker's Allowance from Disability Allowance, or was in State care during the 12 months prior to applying for Jobseeker's Allowance.
It should be noted that any change to the reduced rates of Jobseeker's Allowance would need to be considered in a budgetary context.
