Latest news with #CommunityEmployment
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over 3,000 people in Cork in receipt of unemployment payment for over 12 months or longer
Figures released to the chairperson of the Social Protection Oireachtas Committee, Deputy John Paul O'Shea showed that overall 47,764 people nationally were in receipt of the Jobseeker's Allowance payment with 3,365 people in Cork in receipt of an unemployment payment for over a year. Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul O'Shea who recently obtained a county-by-county breakdown of those in receipt of an unemployment payment expressed serious concerns over the figures. 'At a time when small businesses all across the country are crying out for staff, it's hard to fathom why anybody would be in receipt of an unemployment payment for over a year. Yet figures from the Department of Social Protection show that 47,764 have been in receipt of a Jobseekers' Allowance payment for over 12 months.' 'We have record employment levels in Ireland,' said the Cork TD. 'There is a job out there for everybody that wants one. We need to seriously ask the question, why are some people still not entering the workforce? 'There are a plethora of supports in place to help people with further education, training and reskilling. We also have programmes like Community Employment and the Work Placement Experience Programme which help people get hands on work experience,' he added. Deputy O'Shea said the reasons behind the figures need to be examined in more detail. 'Are there welfare traps which are acting as a disincentive to people taking up employment? Do we need to examine the penalty rates for those who refuse to engage with back to work supports?' Mr O'Shea reiterated his belief that a major focus is required to get long term jobseekers back to work. 'There are small businesses in towns and villages across the country who cannot get staff particularly in the hospitality sector as we approach the busy summer season.' Deputy O'Shea called on the Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary to publish a comprehensive new employment strategy to tackle the issue of long-term unemployment. 'I am calling on Minister Calleary to publish a comprehensive new employment strategy which focuses on intensive engagement with those who are long term unemployed. 'We should not be complacent because Ireland is at full employment. If anything now is the time to redouble our efforts so we can help address labour shortages in the economy by supporting those most distant from the labour market into the workforce,' he added.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major €244 social welfare CUT in blow for more than 3k Irish people as ‘final step' move over key rule warning
OVER 3,000 people across Ireland have had their social welfare payments reduced this year amid a warning that they can be "disqualified from their payment for up to nine weeks". Official figures revealed that welfare cuts for those out-of-work have increased more than 58 per cent compared to the same period last year. Advertisement 2 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary issued the cut warning Credit: Getty Images The benefits were slashed due to a lack of engagement with the Government's Intreo Employment Services. Official figures provided in response to a parliamentary question by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy show that 3,008 unemployed individuals had their However, Social Protection Minister He said: "This reflects the concept of 'rights and responsibilities' whereby people who are unemployed have the right to an income support from the State and a right to be supported in their efforts to secure employment, but also have a responsibility to seek employment and to engage with the employment services offered by the State. Advertisement Read more in Money "Customers who do not engage with the Intreo Employment Service or who fail to participate in appropriate employment interventions can have their jobseeker's payment reduced and subsequently be disqualified from their payment for up to nine weeks. "They may also have their entitlement to a Jobseekers payment reviewed based on a failure to genuinely seek work. "The weekly reduced rates applied for Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit increased from €44 to €90 from January 2025 and is set at 20 per cent for customers in receipt of the recently introduced Jobseeker's Pay Related Benefit." Intreo Employment Services supports jobseekers to find work. Advertisement Most read in Money Supports on offer include further education, training, upskilling and work placements as well as programmes such as Community Employment and TUS. Reduced rates were introduced in 2011 as a measure to encourage jobseekers to engage proactively with efforts to find a pathway to employment. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted Minister Calleary stressed that a reduced rate is a "final step" in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of employment supports on offer. And once a jobseeker resumes this engagement the reduced Advertisement In 2024, 10,232 people had their social welfare payments reduced over the lack of engagement to find employment compared to 5,235 in 2023. This year, 760 people were impacted in January, followed by 1,360 in February and 888 in March. RATE REDUCTION RISK Minister Calleary added: "It is possible that a person may have multiple reduced rates applied throughout the course of the year." Jobseeker's Allowance is a payment to people who are unemployed. Advertisement You can apply for Jobseekers Allowance, if you have been on Jobseekers Benefit and your payment has ended or if you are only entitled to a reduced rate of JB and would be better off on JA. The maximum rate a person on Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit can receive is €244 on a personal rate. This number can increase based on the amount of adult dependents and dependent children there are in the household. 2 Welfare benefits can be slashed due to a lack of engagement with the employment services Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
Dublin Live
07-05-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Thousands have rates slashed in 2025 for one reason
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Some 3,000 people have had their social welfare rates cut in 2025 for not engaging with unemployment services. This compares to just 10,200 people in the entirety of 2024. The data was released to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy following a parliamentary question to Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary. The Fianna Fáil Minister argued that 'entitlement to a jobseeker payment is dependent on the recipient being available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work'. Mr Calleary continued: 'This reflects the concept of 'rights and responsibilities' whereby people who are unemployed have the right to an income support from the State and a right to be supported in their efforts to secure employment, but also have a responsibility to seek employment and to engage with the employment services offered by the State. 'Intreo Employment Services supports jobseekers to find work and there are a wide range of supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements, as well as programmes such as Community Employment and TUS.' He further explained that people who do not engage with Intreo could see their benefits reduced and they can be 'subsequently disqualified from their payment for up to nine weeks'. The amount of money a person's benefit can be docked by each week increased from €44 to €90 in January. Mr Calleary confirmed to Deputy Murphy that in the first three months of 2025 alone, 3,008 people saw their rates reduced. There were 10,232 people impacted in the entirety of 2024 and another 5,235 penalised in 2023. There were 888 people penalised in March, 1,360 in February and 760 in January. The number of people who had their money cut in February 2025 was up 169 per cent compared to February 2024, when 505 people were cut. Minister Calleary continued: "Reduced rates were introduced as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage proactively with Intreo Employment Services to assist them find a pathway to employment. A reduced rate is a final step in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of employment supports on offer and once a jobseeker resumes this engagement, the reduced rate is lifted immediately. 'Whether a reduced rate applies and the duration of its application is totally within the control of the claimant.' Deputy Murphy said that he was concerned about the 'sharp increase in the number of people having their supports cut'. He said: 'We're talking about people here who are trying to pay their bills, many trying to raise a family, while also facing the stress of being temporarily unemployed. They can't afford these cuts. "My office has also noticed an increased number of people contacting us because they've felt pressured into taking up so-called 'internships' and various 'schemes' which are not relevant or helpful for their careers. I am very worried that a Thatcherite agenda is being pursued here, squeezing people's incomes and pushing into JobBridge 2.0 type scams." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Thousands of people have had social welfare rates cut already this year
Some 3,000 people have had their social welfare rates cut in 2025 for not engaging with unemployment services. This compares to just 10,200 people in the entirety of 2024. The data was released to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy following a parliamentary question to Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary. The Fianna Fáil Minister argued that 'entitlement to a jobseeker payment is dependent on the recipient being available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work'. Mr Calleary continued: 'This reflects the concept of 'rights and responsibilities' whereby people who are unemployed have the right to an income support from the State and a right to be supported in their efforts to secure employment, but also have a responsibility to seek employment and to engage with the employment services offered by the State. 'Intreo Employment Services supports jobseekers to find work and there are a wide range of supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements, as well as programmes such as Community Employment and TUS.' He further explained that people who do not engage with Intreo could see their benefits reduced and they can be 'subsequently disqualified from their payment for up to nine weeks'. The amount of money a person's benefit can be docked by each week increased from €44 to €90 in January. Mr Calleary confirmed to Deputy Murphy that in the first three months of 2025 alone, 3,008 people saw their rates reduced. There were 10,232 people impacted in the entirety of 2024 and another 5,235 penalised in 2023. There were 888 people penalised in March, 1,360 in February and 760 in January. The number of people who had their money cut in February 2025 was up 169 per cent compared to February 2024, when 505 people were cut. Minister Calleary continued: "Reduced rates were introduced as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage proactively with Intreo Employment Services to assist them find a pathway to employment. 'A reduced rate is a final step in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of employment supports on offer and once a jobseeker resumes this engagement, the reduced rate is lifted immediately. 'Whether a reduced rate applies and the duration of its application is totally within the control of the claimant.' Deputy Murphy told the Irish Mirror that he was concerned about the 'sharp increase in the number of people having their supports cut'. He said: 'We're talking about people here who are trying to pay their bills, many trying to raise a family, while also facing the stress of being temporarily unemployed. They can't afford these cuts. "My office has also noticed an increased number of people contacting us because they've felt pressured into taking up so-called 'internships' and various 'schemes' which are not relevant or helpful for their careers. 'I am very worried that a Thatcherite agenda is being pursued here, squeezing people's incomes and pushing into JobBridge 2.0 type scams." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
