Latest news with #Jobseeker'sBenefit
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Number of people on Live Register increases to 169,600
169,600 people were on the Live Register in July, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the Central Statistics Office. This was a rise of 0.7%, or 1,100 people, compared to the previous month. The unadjusted total stood at 185,627 people, of which 52% were male and 73% were Irish. The 25-34 years age group made up the largest number of those on the Live Register at 44,446 people or just under 24% of the total. Meanwhile, 12.3% of all claimants, or 22,743 people, were under the age of 25. Dublin recorded the largest percentage increase in the number of people on the Live Register in the 12 months to July, up 5.6%. Kildare saw the second highest increase, up 2.8%. The largest decreases were in Kerry, down 13.7% and Clare, down 9.5%. The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment as it includes part-time workers as well as seasonal and casual workers who are entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance. Figures published yesterday from the CSO showed that the unemployment rate increased slightly in July when compared to the previous month.
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Govt urged to 'save the industry' and put more support in place for farmers
Government is being urged to "save" the agricultural industry and put more financial support in place with "less red tape, rigmarole and bureaucracy". Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly, who sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries, said she believes recent jobseeker payment figures published could be "an underestimate of the numbers leaving" the agriculture sector. She said that for many, farming "was not just a source of income, but a way of life - an occupation handed down from grandparent to parent to child over the years". "Government policies have been incredibly anti-farmer and anti-rural over the last few years, with threats to cull the herd, the Mercosur trade deal and carbon taxes creating huge worry on farms across the country," O'Reilly said. O'Reilly said that often, the money offered to farmers if they sign up to certain schemes "is not worth it". "The delayed ACRES payments, the codology that is 'rewetting' the bogs, all pose a huge threat to the farmer and to his or her ability to make any profit," she said. "All our young people are gone to Australia or Canada, and farms are being abandoned, planted or sold." She said Irish produce is "second to none" on many fronts. "We need to save the industry. There needs to be more financial support put in place - less red tape, rigmarole and bureaucracy," O'Reilly said. "The government needs to stop treating farmers like second-class citizens; they need to recognise that farmers are some of the most decent and astute businessmen and women in the country. "But, government policies particularly around the environment, TB, taxation and issues like that are driving them into debt." Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary recently the number of people who applied for Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit who listed their previous employment as farming in each of the past 10 years. The minister in response published figures on the number of claims made by individuals where the employment immediately prior to the claim commencement was in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. These figures show the number of recipients at the end of each month in the specific year who had an employment in the sector immediately before the jobseeker's claim started, a Department of Social Protection spokesperson explained. In June 2025, the relevant figure was 268, compared with 451 in the same month last year. "It is possible that that recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit are still engaged in farming on a part-time basis," the department spokesperson told Agriland. "Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are payable where a person is working for up to 3 days every week and where they satisfy the other conditions of the scheme. "In the case of Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, a person can be engaged in subsidiary employment which is work that could ordinarily have been followed by the person in addition to their usual employment." To qualify as subsidiary, the total remuneration or profit from the employment should not exceed €7,500 on an annual basis, or, €144 on a weekly basis, the department said. "Alternatively, if a person has at least 117 employment contributions paid from employment at class A or H, in respect of the period of three years immediately preceding that day, or in respect of the last three complete contribution years immediately preceding that day, then no earnings limit is applicable," the spokesperson added. The Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, introduced in March 2025 and based on earnings from work before a person became unemployed, was not included in the June 2025 figure of 268, and this would increase the number to 375, the department said.
Irish Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tanaiste 'not convinced' that pension and dole Budget increases should equal
Tánaiste Simon Harris has suggested that the rate for those receiving Jobseeker's Benefit should not increase as much as the pension rate in the budget. It comes as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned that choices will have to be made in Budget 2026 as he remained non-committal on the prospect of tax cuts for workers. In the last budget, Fine Gael and then social protection minister Heather Humphreys had sought to increase the Jobseekers' payment and the pension by different amounts. At one point, it was suggested that the dole could rise by €10 a week and the pension could go up by €15. However, there was pushback by the Green Party, who said that they were 'uncomfortable' at the idea of making a distinction. There was a smaller level of resistance from Fianna Fáil. Senior Government sources told the Irish Mirror that it is too early to make any decisions on any budget matter, noting that the Summer Economic Statement has yet to be published to set out the parameters of Budget 2026. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Government Trade Form, the Tánaiste opened the door to a distinction being made between pension increases and Jobseeker increases in Budget 2026. Mr Harris told reporters that he did not want to 'open another budget line' at the press conference. He continued: 'Other than to say I do always think there's merit in not looking at social welfare payments with uniformity across the board. 'We've been talking a lot about college fees in the last couple of days, unexpectedly, perhaps. 'But, roughly speaking, the equivalent of €1.20, €1.25 on every social welfare payment is roughly the equivalent of reducing college fees by €1,000. 'Budgets are all about choice and they're all about balance and there's only so much money in the pot. 'So I'd keep an open mind on that. I'm not convinced that you need to see as significant a rise in the dole as you do on the pension, for example, at the time when our country's in full employment and there's lots of supports out there for people getting into work. 'There's other supports out there for people who can't work for very many good reasons. 'That's my view. We'll thrash all this out in the budget. We've quite a way to go.' At the same press conference, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned that the impact of tariffs will have an impact on the growth of the Irish economy. He suggested that while there will still be budget surpluses, the surplus amount will be revised. He also repeated that while new jobs will still be created, they are likely to be created at a lower level because of the potential impact of tariffs. Minister Donohoe also warned that choices will have to be made as part of Budget 2026 and would not commit to changes to tax rates and bands for workers. He stated that the Programme for Government stated that these things will be reviewed in case of an economic shock and that people's take home pay should increase as a result of actual wages going up. He said: 'In relation to Budget 2026 it is a budget that is going to prioritise the creation and the retention of jobs and keeping our public finances safe while investing in our future. 'We will make decisions closer to the time regarding what is the way in which we will do that. 'Clearly, if the government does decide to make investments and decisions in particular areas, we will then decide there are other things that we cannot do. 'That's the right thing to do and we'll make the case for that on Budget Day. 'But this will be a budget that will contain important measures with regard to investment in our country's future and in terms of people's appetite.' The row over college fees and whether or not they will return to €3,000 following Budget 2026 continued to dominate Dáil proceedings on Wednesdays. In response to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Higher Education Minister James Lawless noted that it is July and the budget will be announced in October.
The Journal
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Department of Social Protection fined €550k for unlawful database of millions of Irish people's faces
IRELAND'S MAJOR DATA watchdog has fined the Department of Social Protection €550,000 following a major investigation into its use of facial recognition technology linked to the Public Services Card. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) inquiry, launched in July 2021, examined the DSP's 'SAFE 2′ registration process, which requires applicants to submit biometric facial data used for facial matching as part of their card application. The Public Services Card is needed for accessing many welfare and public services, including applications for Child Benefit, Jobseeker's Benefit and driving licences. A sample Public Services Card. Department of Social Protection Department of Social Protection 'SAFE 2′ registration has led to the Department of Social Protection holding biometric facial templates for about 70% of Ireland's population, making it one of the largest biometric data collections in the country. The DPC inquiry found that the Department did not have a valid legal reason to collect or keep this sensitive facial data. According to the DPC, the Department also failed to clearly inform people about how their data would be used, and the Department's privacy risk assessment was 'incomplete'. As well as the €550,000 fine, the data watchdog ordered the department to cease processing biometric data for 'SAFE 2′ registration by March next year, unless a lawful basis is identified. Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said that the DPC decision 'does not challenge the principle of SAFE 2 registration itself'. 'The technical and security measures in place for handling biometric data are sound,' Doyle said in a statement. Advertisement 'Our concerns relate to whether the legal framework and the way the Department of Social Protection operates the system meet the requirements of data protection law. We found clear gaps in that regard.' The DPC emphasised the need for a clear and precise legal basis when processing such sensitive data, as required by European privacy laws (GDPR), to protect individuals from arbitrary interference with their privacy rights. The DPC's decision was made by Data Protection Commissioner Dale Sunderland, and was notified to the Department of Social Protection this week. The Department of Social Protection has yet to comment on the ruling. 'More than a decade late' The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), which has campaigned against the use of facial recognition in the Public Services Card for more than 15 years, welcomed the decision but described it as 'more than a decade late and inadequate.' Joe O'Brien, ICCL's Executive Director, said the ruling 'vindicates the actions taken by ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland against the Department of Employment and Social Protection'. He said the ruling also confirmed what they had long argued – that the Department unlawfully collected facial records from millions without proper legal grounds or clear explanation. 'The Public Services Card, which was estimated to have cost the State €100 million, trespassed upon human rights and infringed EU and Irish law,' O'Brien said. 'The Department effectively created a de facto national biometric ID system by stealth over 15-plus years without a proper legal foundation. This illegal database of millions of Irish people's biometric data must be deleted.' Olga Cronin, Senior Policy Officer at ICCL, criticised the mandatory nature of the facial recognition process. 'The Department unlawfully forced vulnerable people to give it their biometric data before it would help them,' Cronin said. 'It demanded data from people who needed its help to put food on the table. We should not have to trade our biometric data to access essential services to which we are already legally entitled.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major 72-hour ‘not available' social welfare warning for thousands of Irish TOMORROW amid service maintenance
A MAJOR warning has been issued to social welfare recipients as a key online service is set to be unavailable for 72 hours. The Work will be carried out over the June Bank Holiday weekend, meaning the And it will remain unavailable until 8am on Tuesday June 3. In an alert displayed on the website said: "Please note: Update to maintenance window. "Due to essential maintenance, MyWelfare will be offline over the June bank holiday weekend, from 08:00 Saturday 31st May to 08:00 Tuesday 3rd June. READ MORE IN MONEY "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause." This will mean thousands of people across the country will not be able to access their MyWelfare accounts until well in to next week. The MyWelfare website gives users access to a range of services such as applying for the Jobseeker's Benefit, Child Benefit and Maternity payments. Here you can also access the pathways to work section, apply or manage disability payments, carer payments and pensions. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN With the website down you will also be unable to access civil registration services or make appeals or view claims. New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications During this window some people will also be unable to access their MyGovID. However, not all users will be impacted. Welfare bosses explained: "You will also be unable to verify your basic MyGovID account during this timeframe. "If your account is already verified, you will still be able to access it. "Should the maintenance be completed ahead of schedule, these systems may become available before 8am on Tuesday, 3 June 2025." They added: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused." PAYMENT CHANGES THIS WEEK There will also be The bank holiday Monday falls on June 2 and people will see a change to their Due to the bank holiday, This means that anyone who was expecting to be paid on Monday will most likely be paid early. It's expected that people will see the payment in their account on Friday May 30. The payment schedule will then go back to normal on Tuesday June 3. At this stage the website should also have returned to normal. 1 Key groups will be impacted Credit: Getty Images
