Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
465. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to state the total number of people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit continuously since December 2019; to state the ages and geographical locations of these recipients; and to state how many of these recipients, if any, have been deemed unfit to work due to medical or other reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25135/24]
View answerFor the week ending 2nd June 2024, there were 20,287 people on the Live Register in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit with a commencement date prior to 1 January 2020. These figures are inclusive of periods where pay may have been suspended for a recipient but their claim remained open, and is also inclusive of casual workers (those who work up to three days per week).
The Department continues to take significant steps to help long term unemployed people into employment. The Intreo Employment Service provides an individualised service, designed to support people who are unemployed into the labour market. There are currently over 50,000 long term unemployed people engaging with the Intreo Employment Service. They work with the service to develop a personalised progression plan documenting the steps they will take on their pathway to securing sustainable employment. If a person refuses to engage, without a good reason, their payment is reduced. Just over 3,000 people have had their payment reduced so far this year for failing to engage, however when a person reengages, their payment is restored.
In order to be eligible for Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit, the recipient must be capable of work, genuinely seeking work and available for full time work. There are a number of social welfare payments which people who are sick or who have a disability may be eligible for, such as Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance, or Invalidity Pension.
Breakdowns by age and county as requested by the Deputy are shown in the attached tables.
Table 1: Continuous Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit claims since 2019, by age
|
Age |
Recipients |
|
Under 25 |
322 |
|
25-29 |
1,261 |
|
30-34 |
2,117 |
|
35-39 |
2,601 |
|
40-44 |
2,718 |
|
45-49 |
2,729 |
|
50-54 |
2,895 |
|
55-59 |
2,723 |
|
60+ |
2,921 |
|
Total |
20,287 |
Table 2: Continuous Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit claims since 2019, by county
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
412 |
|
Cavan |
431 |
|
Clare |
567 |
|
Cork |
1,186 |
|
Donegal |
1,289 |
|
Dublin |
5,055 |
|
Galway |
1,025 |
|
Kerry |
656 |
|
Kildare |
648 |
|
Kilkenny |
422 |
|
Laois |
421 |
|
Leitrim |
171 |
|
Limerick |
829 |
|
Longford |
326 |
|
Louth |
902 |
|
Mayo |
730 |
|
Meath |
584 |
|
Monaghan |
232 |
|
Offaly |
389 |
|
Roscommon |
274 |
|
Sligo |
330 |
|
Tipperary |
650 |
|
Waterford |
626 |
|
Westmeath |
515 |
|
Wexford |
1,039 |
|
Wicklow |
555 |
|
Unknown |
23 |
|
Total |
20,287 |
