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THERE HAVE BEEN 437 jobseekers who have had their payments cut for not engaging with the National Employment Action Plan.
These individuals had their payments cut for either not engaging with the NEAP or refusing a training offer from FÁS or the Department of Social Protection.
The department told TheJournal.ie that in April 2011 that it had introduced arrangements whereby the rate of payment to jobseeker customers can be reduced if they don’t engage with the NEAP or refuse a training offer.
It added:
Most people are happy to co-operate when the system tries to help them as most people are genuinely seeking work.
An activation system, which includes Pathways to Work, is being developed and will be announced shortly by the Government.
The Department says this “will enshrine the concept of rights and responsibilities in the benefits’ system” and will also involve a “contractual relationship” between the claimant and the Department of Social Protection.
By accepting payment of benefit, assistance and/or support, the client agrees to avail him or herself of the appropriate support measures offered during the course of the activation process.
This includes employment, education, training and/or placement in employment schemes.
The Department has examined less than 2,000 cases of people who failed to attend two EAP interviews in the first six months of the new system and who did not have a reduced rate applied to their claim.
In most cases, people that failed to attend NEAP interviews on two occasions are either currently under investigation, have subsequently engaged with the NEAP process or are participating on another labour market initiative, or have left the live register.
Under the reductions, the maximum personal rate of payment for jobseekers can be reduced by €44 per week while the rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance can be reduced by €42 per week.
The reduced rates are applicable where a jobseeker:
These arrangements apply to personal rates of payment only, so additional payments for adult and child dependents are not affected.
It was announced this week that under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Troika and the Irish Government, jobseekers will face tougher sanctions if they do not take advantage of employment opportunities.
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How the heck did we manage before they named storms and give us red, orange and yellow warnings?
We just dressed sensibly and got on with it!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Well said
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Ollie you’re so edgy
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: because some people don’t heed weather forecasts and don’t moderate their driving regarding their own or other’s safety. They have to be beaten over the head with a big stick to pay attention.?
That means a lot coming from…whoever the hell you are.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: because it very useful to people that are affected by weather, namely farmers, HGV drivers, construction, forestry, anything water based and thats only to mention a few.
Can’t understand the whinging people do about colour warnings
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Yes, and were killed by flying roof debris as happened to a poor man in my village back in the 60s.
I’m struggling to imagine how more information is a bad thing.
@Ronan McGrath: Not edgy at all Ronan, just showing my age. Lol ;>)
@Dave S: Dave, sorry if you thought I was whinging , I was being tongue in cheek whilst querying the national furore that exists when storms arrive. I was a professional driver all my working life over 50 years and know how these storms can affect all.
@Nell: Nell, most people do heed forecasts, but as you allude to some, don’t and never will. They are the sawdust heads that know it all and do their own thing to the detriment of others.
@Stanley Marsh: So sorry for the poor man who died. There are some people who will never heed weather warnings. We see them everytime there’s bad weather. If they actually got a phone warning, they still wouldn’t heed it!
Getting fairly breezy here now in Limerick west where we have a yellow wind warning.Im a bit worried for my good friends and neighbours in Kerry (orange warning) I might light a candle for them.
@Willie Marty: If you were any good, you would drive down to save them.
@Paul whitehead: too dangerous especially down around Kilgarvan where it might be extra windy if the Healy Raes are at home.
A morning of uncertainity for parents, schools saying not closing and with less than 5 mins notice ” oh school is closing”,
@: Tough life – I’ve no idea how you manage to keep going.
@: The winds of change
Eh no. Quite simple. Red Warning means no transport so schools close. No red warning so schools are open.
It’s not even raining lol
@Gavin Gray: Lashing here but I’ll take your word for it.
I remember walking to school in this kind of weather and you might get soaked, but it was just ordinary Irish weather, no big deal.
@ForYourSafety: and your teachers hogged the heater, while we froze yo death, the good old days.
@colette byrne: Lol you know it.
I don’t see the Climate stopping at the invisible line above Dundalk like Greedy Greens are telling us in the Republic that they only measure the 26 counties for emissions.
While the other 6 counties are happy out!!
@Luka Roche: What on earth are you on about, dear boy?
@Luka Roche: a great point that nobody talks about.
@Luka Roche: I never heard that one before.
Nanny is on overtime again
Hay guys, I’m gona climb Carrauntoohil and paraglide off its peak, land on the skilligs,then swim to Castletownbere,ride my motorbike up to the quays in Cork and have a picnic,cause I’m hard and don’t believe in this orange warning clap trap. There were no rainbow warnings in my day.
Weather warning appear to be another day off for teachers.
Everyone else has to get on with their lives as usual
@Pat the Baker: nothing to do with safety of children, no? Just send your children out to play in the gale so, sure a few flying roof tiles and falling trees won’t bother them. Schools have a duty of care to the CHILDREN!
Rain now started here in co meath but not windy-yet! Stay safe everyone
If it’s breezy, I’m staying in bed till tomorrow. Disaster. Thank God for Topboy.
Beautiful here in Waterford. Early morning swim in Kilmurrin Cove then up the Cometaghs for a walk.
Dehydration is the real worry.
Comeraghs.
@Tommy Haze: Should stay up the Comeraghs for the afternoon, you know when it’s actually supposed to get stormy.
have your say