Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2015
59. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the terms of reference and timeframe for the proposed review of the rate of jobseeker's allowance for young persons under 25 years of age, which she recently announced; if the review will allow for input and submissions from organisations working on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45597/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraReduced rates for younger jobseeker's allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009, extended in Budget 2014 and now apply to jobseeker's allowance recipients under 26 years of age. These measures are targeted activation measures, aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency by incentivising them to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker's allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
The Labour Market Council is a group comprising of independent industry leaders and labour market policy experts from organisations including the OECD, SIPTU and the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed. The Council has responsibility for driving the implementation of the Pathways to Work strategy and for advising on labour market policy. That is why I have asked the Council to examine the reduced rates of jobseeker's allowance for those under 26 years of age.
I have asked my officials to draft the terms of reference and broad structure of the Council's review and this work is currently ongoing.
