Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
639. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have had the penalty rate of €90 imposed on their jobseeker’s payment for failure to engage with activation services since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71746/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to a jobseeker payment is dependent on the recipient being available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work. 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.
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 9 weeks. They may also have their entitlement to a jobseekers payment reviewed based on a failure to genuinely seek work.
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.
Since January and up to the end of November 2025, a total of 10,971 reduced rates were applied to jobseeker payments for failure to engage with activation measures. It is possible that a person may have multiple reduced rates applied throughout the course of the year and that some people may have a reduced rate amount other than €90 applied to their jobseeker’s payment such as €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 is set at 20% of their weekly payment.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
