Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
270. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseeker’s payment recipients who have had a reduced rate of payment applied due to penalties or sanctions, broken down by type of penalty, the duration, age group, social welfare office and the total aggregate value of payment reductions arising from such penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27373/26]
View answerReduced rates were introduced in 2011 as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage proactively with my department’s Intreo Employment Services to assist them find a pathway to employment.
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.
Jobseekers 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 9 weeks. They may also have their entitlement to a Jobseekers payment reviewed based on a failure to genuinely seek work. 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.
The weekly reduced rates applied for jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit is €90 since January 2025 and €50 for those aged under 25 and in receipt of a reduced age-related Jobseekers Allowance. The reduced rate for customers in receipt of Jobseekers Pay Related Benefit which was introduced at the end of March 2025 is set at 20% of their weekly payment.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown on the specific type or reason why the reduced rate was applied, the duration or the value of payment reductions arising from the application of such sanctions.
The tables below provides a breakdown of the total number of reduced rates applied in 2025 at each of my department’s Intreo Centres. The second table provides a breakdown by age group for the same period. It is possible that a person may have multiple reduced rates applied throughout the course of the year.
|
Intreo Office |
No. of Reduced Rates applied in 2025 |
|
Arklow |
92 |
|
Bray |
129 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
12 |
|
Clondalkin |
165 |
|
Newbridge |
338 |
|
Tallaght |
536 |
|
Ballyfermot |
345 |
|
Bishops Square |
267 |
|
Nutgrove |
42 |
|
Parnell Street |
672 |
|
Blanchardstown |
387 |
|
Balbriggan |
183 |
|
Ballymun |
281 |
|
Coolock |
473 |
|
Finglas |
254 |
|
Swords |
140 |
|
Cavan |
174 |
|
Drogheda |
359 |
|
Navan |
196 |
|
Dundalk |
492 |
|
Buncrana |
10 |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
14 |
|
Donegal |
127 |
|
Dungloe |
9 |
|
Dunfanaghy |
3 |
|
Letterkenny |
113 |
|
Manorhamilton |
7 |
|
Sligo |
36 |
|
Cahirciveen |
8 |
|
Kenmare |
3 |
|
Killarney |
34 |
|
Limerick |
608 |
|
Listowel |
43 |
|
Newcastlewest |
120 |
|
Tralee |
81 |
|
Waterford |
728 |
|
Wexford |
429 |
|
Carlow |
107 |
|
Kilkenny |
89 |
|
Cork City |
319 |
|
Carrigaline |
34 |
|
Mallow |
111 |
|
Cobh |
44 |
|
Bantry |
17 |
|
Edenderry |
61 |
|
Portlaoise |
177 |
|
Clonmel |
217 |
|
Thurles |
139 |
|
Tullamore |
379 |
|
Achill |
3 |
|
Athlone |
70 |
|
Ballina |
152 |
|
Belmullet |
7 |
|
Castlebar |
73 |
|
Longford |
90 |
|
Mullingar |
130 |
|
Roscommon |
161 |
|
Westport |
50 |
|
Ennis |
265 |
|
Clifden |
11 |
|
Galway |
341 |
|
Loughrea |
125 |
|
Total |
11,082 |
|
Age Group |
Number of Reduced Rate Applied in 2025 |
|
18–20 |
1,036 |
|
21–24 |
2,132 |
|
25–29 |
1,720 |
|
30–39 |
3,215 |
|
40–49 |
2,088 |
|
50+ |
891 |
|
Total |
11,082 |
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
