Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
213. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 1 May 2014, since that reply issued, the number of persons who have had their jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance reduced or suspended for refusing to engage with labour activation schemes. [13017/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislation provides that penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where clients fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures.
Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or to avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes (e.g. Community Employment), which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.
A total of 6,413 penalties were applied from 1 January 2014 to end February 2015. This figure is inclusive of the 1,113 penalty rates quoted in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 1 May 2014.
