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Talk to Joan: 400 calls about dole and welfare fraud EVERY WEEK

Over 4,000 case investigations were carried out by the Department’s Special Investigation Unit.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Social Protection dealt with 21,000 reports of alleged or suspected fraud last year, latest figures reveal.

That’s over 400 a week.

“All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and where relevant, are referred for follow-up action,” according to the 2014 Annual Report from Joan Burton’s department.

A social welfare payment is not suspended or stopped solely on the basis of an anonymous report. The anonymous report, however, may trigger the instigation of a review of a customer’s entitlement.

The Department’s Special Investigation Unit achieved savings of around €68 million last year through a crack-down on fraud. Over 4,000 case investigations resulted in social welfare payments being stopped or reduced.

The team carried out specific crackdowns in areas like non-residency and identity fraud.

20 gardaí were seconded to the Department in 2014 to boost the resources of the unit.

Read: ‘I haven’t a clue’: TDs aren’t sure what’s being offered to sweeten Aer Lingus sale >

Read: Man arrested in Jobstown estate after early morning M50 chase >

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58 Comments
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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    May 26th 2015, 9:47 AM

    I posted this before a few weeks ago.

    What do you do when you know of two particular men who haven’t worked in over 8 years. Both have no intention of getting work and both live at home.
    They are 35 and 36 years old. They worked for a couple of year before that and then 6-7 years of dole (right after school).

    They don’t have a cars,not even driving licences. So being in a small town in Mayo, the excuse is they are not available for jobbridge in Castlebar or any other larger two as they have no means of travel.

    I know these fellas well as they are my neighbours and I went to school with them. Two of the greatest under achievers I’ve ever known. Brains to burn but just can’t be bothered.

    Every two years they apply for jobs they have no chance of getting. They then receive the letter from the company stating their application was not successful. They then send it into Swinford SW, which will do for another two years before the department contacts them
    They don’t que each week. It’s payed into their accounts each week. They sign on once a month.

    To anyone who thinks I’ve something against them, I’m telling you that I don’t. But obviously the system is broken when cases like these two are in every town in Ireland.

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    Mute Waddler Mooney
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    May 26th 2015, 10:19 AM

    Just to put unemployment in context. During the last decade, the unemployment rate hovered around 4% for the 8 years before the crash in 2008. This means that 96% of people, a huge majority will work when there is work available.

    Of that 4% chronic unemployed, many are not suitable for the types of employment that a modern economy offers. These would be people with minimal education looking for manual labour in factories, building sites and farms etc. Technology development has greatly reduced the numbers of these jobs and so people will struggle to find work in these areas now.

    There are also many people out there who have medical disabilities which won’t allow them to work. In addition there are those with borderline educational, social and psychiatric issues which will in practice exclude them from the jobs market. They may not have any formal medical diagnosis but every town and parish has these people that will never be able to hold down a job. Then there are workers who are still in the labour force but are between jobs. It’s not possible to put an exact figure on these groups that can’t or are not capable of finding suitable work but let’s call it 3% for the sake of argument.

    That would leave only 1% of the working population who remain on social welfare by choice. A fraction of these will also be caught in the poverty trap where the cost of child minding, travel etc and lost social welfare benefits would outweigh the earnings if they found employment. This is especially true with the vicious attacks on wages and working conditions during the recession and the prevalence of minimum wage/minimal hours contracts now.

    Ireland had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe during the boom and always had one of the highest emigration rates demonstrating our willingness to work whenever and wherever employment can be found.

    Even if we assumed that the measured low of 4% unemployed were all unwilling to work (which is clearly not the case). 4% of the current total Labour Force of 2.2 million approximately equates to 88,000 people. It would take 88k people each claiming €200 per week in payments, 124 years before the total would match the €113 billion and counting that has been extorted from Ireland to pay for the bank bailout.

    The true parasites don’t live at the bottom of the pyramid, they reside on the top in areas like finance and politics like Ms. Burton.

    213
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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    May 26th 2015, 11:00 AM

    I agree. We have psychotic parasites in the Dail that have and do still claim way more than these two lads.

    But my point is that the system is open to abuse.

    Myself and my mates are married. We cost our parents a small fortune to send use through 3rd level. Work long hours and travel a lot. Pay on average of 1600 per month is taxes (total deductions). But we get no benefit.

    We don’t get houses handed to us, allowences for fuel, medical cards etc. We pay for everything that we receive.

    My point is, there are people out there that need help from the tax payer as they have fallen on hard times. Then there’s the wasters who are infact parasites and the system doesn’t do enough to tackle them.

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    May 26th 2015, 11:11 AM

    Why are we back to paying these guys the dole by direct debit. This was condemned around the time of the crash and people on the dole had to collect it. The biggest problem was people could head up north or abroad to work while getting dole paid into their accounts. If this is the case the this government has Fallen Asleep at the wheel.

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    Mute Natasha Nk
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    May 26th 2015, 11:24 AM

    Decisions makers just know that If society won’t feed those guys they will come for food to your and to my house.

    1
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    Mute Waddler Mooney
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    May 26th 2015, 11:33 AM

    Jason,
    The system doesn’t do anything at all to tackle the infinitely more damaging parasites at the top. They are in fact generously rewarded for their role in protecting the interests of elite at the expense of the majority.

    They act with impunity and part of the reason they can do so is through the manipulation of public opinion through articles such as this one. They continually strive to keep the majority divided and fighting among ourselves for the scraps so that we never look up and understand who’s feasting on top of the table.

    63
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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    May 26th 2015, 11:34 AM

    Not fallen asleep. All intentional. Waste as much of our money as possible so we have other problems to keep ourselves blindsided by.

    22
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    Mute Roger K. Woodpecker
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    May 26th 2015, 12:23 PM

    I know a lad just like that where I come from in Wexford. Same age, plenty of ability but no work ethic. EU 200 a week to do nothing for decades? I work in Spain: 200 Euros is a weekly wage here! I’m not criticising those who have no choice but to sign on, and I accept that in the modern economy, work is very unstable, but those who sign on for lifestyle reasons don’t deserve to have better living standards than the struggling taxpayers who fund them.

    51
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    Mute f m
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    May 26th 2015, 2:44 PM

    4% of the total population. That means they include new born babies in the unemployment figures.
    Even during the so called Celtic tiger there were over 160,000 people on unemployment benefit whilst others came from across the world to work here.
    It’s times to end life times spent on welfare.
    There should be a maximum; five years would seem like a good amount as most working people will never be on the dole for that long.

    16
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    Mute zebedee
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    May 26th 2015, 9:57 AM

    I have no time for swindlers at any end of the scale. Whether that be politicians, bankers or the guy who stays in bed all day while his neighbour works hard to contribute towards his SW payments.

    353
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    Mute Barney r
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    May 26th 2015, 10:54 AM

    Well you kinda let the bankers and politicians off the hook on your watch.

    123
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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    May 26th 2015, 10:57 AM

    Yeah, that was definitely his watch alright.

    92
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    Mute Stephen Fagan
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    May 26th 2015, 9:43 AM

    Not a chance of them putting out a call centre for reporting tax evasion. How about Siteserv lads? Can’t be one rule for you and one for everyone else.

    218
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    Mute David adams
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    May 26th 2015, 9:36 AM

    Talk to Joan. Ye right there’s more truth to be had from the chimps in Dublin Zoo. Joan and Enda the gay vote won’t save you.

    188
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    May 26th 2015, 9:42 AM

    The Gay vote? Didn’t realise they all voted the same way!

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    Mute Powerabbey
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    May 26th 2015, 9:57 AM

    David – did your brother Gerry ask you to say this?

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    Mute Bill Madden
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    May 26th 2015, 10:45 AM

    Hate to tell you Dave but Enda and Co will be back in power next time, if only because there is no real alternative.

    24
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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    May 26th 2015, 11:05 AM

    Vote for change, there’s your alternative. Do not reward bullies and liars with your vote. If FG get back in, austerity part 2 will commence.

    49
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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    May 26th 2015, 11:06 AM

    FG wouldn’t lie straight in bed.

    38
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    Mute Bill Madden
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    May 26th 2015, 12:42 PM

    @ Fintan… please give me a proper alternative from the parties who are in the Dail?

    9
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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 26th 2015, 12:47 PM

    Grand so, stick “change” on my ballot paper

    9
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    Mute ss
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    May 26th 2015, 1:31 PM

    Yes they going to adopt baby Maria, such a good wheeze before the election with Zappone and Varadkar as the ungod parents…….wainbaw Ireland Inc

    6
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    Mute Denise Friary
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    May 26th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Meanwhile back at the ranch the TDs and Senators are raking in the expenses under the radar…Divide and conquer is the name if the game.

    162
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    Mute up3bs9LF
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    May 26th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Do you know joan what needs some looking into Yes Jobsbridge is a fraud too.

    136
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    Mute patjoejoe123
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    May 26th 2015, 10:40 AM

    only the work shy have an issue with job bridge

    30
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    Mute Jack Kelly
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    May 26th 2015, 10:53 AM

    No. Employers use it to exploit workers and increase profits.

    Exploit workers.

    Increase profits.

    EXPLOIT WORKERS

    INCREASE PROFITS

    That’s it.

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    Mute just_pure_fedup
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    May 26th 2015, 10:58 AM

    @ Patjoejoe123 – Bo11oxology!!!!

    54
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    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
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    May 26th 2015, 11:14 AM

    Spoken like a true FG lackey..divide and condemn..any sign of the fennely report..or any sign of action on siteserv..

    57
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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 26th 2015, 12:50 PM

    Capital letters are not proof

    13
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    Mute Colm Casey
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    May 26th 2015, 9:56 AM

    They are not “customers”, they are citizens. Where did the lunacy come from with the Dept. Of Social Protection and more having “customer charters”??

    94
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    Mute J
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    May 26th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Citizens who are committing fraud? Don’t know about you but I’d rather my taxes didn’t go to people like this.

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    Mute Colm Casey
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    May 26th 2015, 2:01 PM

    I would agree with you. If there is fraud, it should be weeded out. However, they are not customers. Even the Co. Councils have customer charters. What’s that about?

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    Mute VereWynnMoans
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    May 26th 2015, 9:54 AM
    65
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    May 26th 2015, 10:10 AM

    Its a myth that there is widespread social welfare fraud going on, not saying there’s none, but they are defiantly not making the savings they say they are. It’s probably costing more to carry out investigations into false allegations. Read the Gene Kerrigan piece.

    94
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    Mute Stephen Fagan
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    May 26th 2015, 1:14 PM

    Read the interview there. The man is on the ball and is honest of his own Bias to politicians as well. If only other journals looked at writing the way he does.

    18
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    Mute Ignoreland
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    May 26th 2015, 10:55 AM

    I wish people were more concerned about tax evasion than social welfare fraud and more resources were poured into this. It costs the exchequer far more than social welfare fraud does. Of course, whenever anybody complains about tax evasion in Ireland, we like to bring up stories about garlic and say it’s not that bad because sure we’d all do it if we could’.

    59
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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    May 26th 2015, 11:10 AM

    Can we not address both at the same time? Why does seem like an Irish thing where we can’t address multiple problems concurrently?

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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    May 26th 2015, 11:49 AM

    Because Jason the political will is not there to address tax evasion, too many influential toes would be stepped on and political donations jeopardised.
    When you think of it, the E15000 in untouched expenses afforded to our TDs is a form of tax evasion which is officially condoned by the state. What is the difference between a plumber claiming dole for a day he did a nixer and a TD claiming stopover allowance for a night he went home?
    Would DOB be offering top jobs in his empire to people who might be reporting back on his business dealings?

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    May 26th 2015, 1:18 PM

    I agree we should address both but as Martin says the political will isn’t there. But the worst is over in the UK where people watch shows like Benefits Street which completely distort how the welfare state operates, turning people against vulnerable people on social welfare. Meanwhile, the incredibly rich are engaging in tax evasion or tax avoidance and nobody bats an eye. It’s incredibly frustrating but also incredibly dangerous. People end up blaming the poor for austerity when they’re victims too.

    18
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    Mute Jerry Adams
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    May 26th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Its the eu nationals flying in and out picking up dole money,thats the problem

    57
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    Mute Live Long
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    May 26th 2015, 10:43 AM

    ID fraud and non residency eh, shock horror. Those caught out wouldn’t happen to be Western Union customers too per chance, if you catch my drift

    49
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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    May 26th 2015, 9:50 AM

    You’d need to do a lot of mixers to pay for a High Court injunction.

    45
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    Mute Em Ni Mhurchu
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    May 26th 2015, 10:29 AM

    There might be that many reports but I’m positive the number of people found to be defrauding the nation is pretty small. Another sinister, underhanded effort by the government to demonise everyone on welfare while they carry on robbing us blind!

    45
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 26th 2015, 10:13 AM

    co-habiting, now the leading sw fraud and the hardest to detect which is why its leading where all the others are tightened such as workers claiming. see it all over the place. sure we all need a man or woman in our lives, doesn’t matter if we’re claiming or not, we need company. Tell Joan that, she’ll understand and help you have more kids, doesn’t matter if dad is not pay, we’ll find another to keep us company in our paid for 3 bed soon to be 4 bed.

    44
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    Mute Thosj Carroll
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    May 26th 2015, 10:58 AM

    Fraud is wrong but do we really believe about 400 calls a week per year? If Department claims this then they could lie to us too!

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    Mute ss
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    May 26th 2015, 12:05 PM

    Calls to Government/Gardai/DPP about White Collar crime and HSBC and Ansbacher Crime go unanswered. ……Siteserv..Siteserv..Siteserv

    28
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    Mute patjoejoe123
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    May 26th 2015, 10:39 AM

    Reporting a welfare cheat is one of lives great pleasures. sending an anonymous note to the cheat telling them you are reporting them is also a great pleasure :)

    27
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    Mute MadMax
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    May 26th 2015, 12:37 PM

    400 calls a week what a bunch of rats. Maybe if the wage was a bit better in these areas people would not feel the need the sign and grab a days cash here and there to help them pay the bills.

    23
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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 26th 2015, 12:52 PM

    Yes it’s the people reporting theft that’s the problem. Not the theft itself

    10
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    May 26th 2015, 2:06 PM

    How is it that we’ve never come up with an effective, humane ‘work for dole’ scheme? The notion of young people being born into an entitlement culture is bad for society. It’s not like there isn’t lots of work that needs doing.
    For instance, if somebody is getting €200 a week plus another €150 rent allowance, they should be offered work commensurate with that €350. So, if somebody has no skills, she/he might be offered 35 hours work, €10/hour or slightly above minimum wage. If a person has qualifications of skills worth €20/hour in the open market, they would be given 17 hours work a week, etc etc.
    I’ve never been unemployed for more than a day of two, but if I was idle I’d much prefer options like these instead of sitting at home.
    Anyone agree?

    8
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    Mute Michael Hayden
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    May 26th 2015, 2:21 PM

    Not sure I follow you

    You want the people on the dole to work for there money
    sure how would they have time to moan about IW or site serve or travellers not allowed into mass or gardi arrested drunks in doorways etc

    I reported a guy this morning for using my address to claim job seekers was told by sw mine wasn’t the only address he was using and this was confirmed by the postman.
    Sw told me he’s been investigated by one of the top guys in the country.

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    Mute niallo81
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    May 26th 2015, 2:56 PM

    Why would an employer hire a full time employee when they can avail of skilled laborer and the tax payer is picking up the tab. Do you suggest placing them in the public sector which the tax payer is covering anyway or in the private sector where they get €50 on top of social welfare payments… Job bridge

    5
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    Mute cosmological
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    May 26th 2015, 9:49 AM

    If that were Joan in the picture I might fancy a chat.

    6
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    Mute ss
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    May 26th 2015, 12:11 PM

    Joan, God she is ugly …. and that is just her politics.

    13
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    Mute pongodhall
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    May 31st 2015, 1:01 AM

    Please, the personal remarks are bad manners. Not all of us were blessed with good looks but are plain or really ugly. It does not mean this is a subject for comment or insult.
    Most people are pleasant most of the time. That is what concerns me.
    Joan burton may be a perfectly pleasant woman outside of work but I appreciate she has to toe the line but wish she would fight for the people much more.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    May 27th 2015, 11:59 PM

    What about ministers who are suppose to be working but are not?

    3
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    Mute Bill Madden
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    May 26th 2015, 2:02 PM

    I do love the “the government robbing us blind” comment, they rob us blind TO provide the SW budget amongst many other (some wastful) things. Perhaps we should dot things Greek style……Oh! Wait that hasn’t worked out to well either. Our system is s**te, till we try another!

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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    May 26th 2015, 4:07 PM

    So they only rob us blind to pay for SW Bill? Somebody else is paying for the HSE and the PS, which includes the self same government? Somebody else is paying to keep bankers and white collar fraudsters in the manner to which they”be become accustomed, including those ones who can manage golf club subscriptions and holidays in Florida, while having no visible means of support? Somebody else is subsidising State junkets, banquets, travel, bars, meals, hotels? Who are these people, I’d like to shake them by the hand?

    6
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