The Government are proposing doubling the penalty rate for people who do not engage with employment / activation services to €90, which will represent 37% of the maximum rate from January 2025. This is an increase on the current penalty of €44 - when it was introduced, it represented 23% of the maximum core payment.
With the new proposal, a single person on the maximum Jobseeker's Allowance rate would be left with €154 per week.
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed called on the Government to “Ensure that employment services are person centred and work with people in a supportive and pro-active manner, working with people so that they can avail of the most appropriate option for themselves.”
According to the latest CSO figures for September.
- The seasonally adjusted Live Register total for September 2024 was 166,800 people, down by 2,100 people or 1.2% from August 2024.
- The unadjusted Live Register total stood at 162,855 people for September 2024.
- Of the 162,855 people on the unadjusted Live Register in September 2024, 55.3% were male and 71.8% were Irish.
- The 25-34 age group made up the largest number of those on the Live Register in September 2024 at 38,222 people or 23.5% of the total.
- In September 2024 there were 104,903 people on the Live Register for less than one year, which was 6,286 fewer people (-5.7%) than September 2023.
When it came to Waterford, 5, 210 people were on the live register in September.
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