Over 200 people in the Shannonside region had their Jobseekers benefits cut last year because they failed to engage with employment services. New figures show it's twice as many as the previous year. Reduced rates were introduced in 2011 to encourage jobseekers to co-operate with the Department of Social Protection, in trying to help them get jobs. It was stopped during the Covid pandemic but was gradually re-introduced over the course of 2023. It involves someone getting their payment cut if, without good reason, they fail to engage with the Intreo Employment Service.
49 people have their payment reduced in Leitrim last year - up from 4 the previous. The figure also increased in Longford between 2023 and 2024, going from 82 to 119. And it also went up in Roscommon, going from just 4 to 35.
