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Jobseeker's Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2016

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Ceisteanna (169)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

169. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2017 of restoring the young persons jobseeker's allowance rates of €100 and €150 per week to the standard rate of JSA. [28029/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and Budget 2014 further extended the reduced rates to recipients under 26 years of age. The reduced €100 rate of jobseeker's allowance applies to persons without children up to age 24 and the reduced €144 rate of jobseeker's allowance applies to persons without children who reach the age of 25. If a young 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 2016 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of €2.45 billion.

The full year cost of increasing the rate of jobseeker’s allowance paid to recipients under 26 years of age to the maximum rate of €188 per week is estimated at €128.4 million in 2017. This cost includes increasing the rate of Supplementary Welfare allowance for recipients under 26 years of age to the maximum weekly rate of €186 per week and increasing the €160 Back to Education allowance rate to the max rate of €188 per week.

However, this does not include the additional cost that would be incurred of paying the full weekly rate of €188 to under 26s who are on other relevant education and training schemes, that fall under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills and are currently receiving €160 per week.

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