National Youth Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation National Youth Council of Ireland

Date published 20 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details Equalisation of Jobseekers’ Allowance rate for under-25s to those aged 25 and over

Intended results To gain support for the equalisation of Jobseekers’ Allowance rate for under-25s to those aged 25 and over Information on the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of Jobseekers' Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance and signing for credits on a county basis. Information on number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of Jobseekers' Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance and signing for credits for 12 months or more. Information on the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the full rate of Jobseekers' Allowance of €208 per week. information on the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the lower rate of Jobseekers' Allowance of €117.70 per week. Information on the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of a rate of a Jobseekers' Allowance other than €117.70 and €208 per week. Information on the cost of increasing the Jobseeker's Allowance for those young persons under 25 years who are currently on the weekly rate of €117.70 to the full rate of €208.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Marie-Claire McAleer and Paul Gordon

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Informal communication (2-5)

Discussion with John McKeon (Sec Gen, DSP) as part of National Economic Dialogue workshop (20.06.2022) Discussion with John McKeon (Sec Gen, DSP) as part of Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Forum (27.07.2022) Discussion with Pauric McPhillips (Advisor) as part Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Forum (27.07.2022)

Event / Reception (1)

Presentation to Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath as part of National Economic Dialogue (20.06.2022)

Email (2-5)

Two e-mails to Gary Gannon (06.07 – 14.07) relating to equalisation of rates for jobseekers allowance.

Email (2-5)

2 emails to Deputy Thomas Pringle on 08.06.22 and 09.06.22 requesting information by way of PQ on the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of Jobseekers' Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance and signing for credits on a county basis; the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of Jobseekers' Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance and signing for credits for 12 months or more; the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the full rate of Jobseekers' Allowance of €208 per week; the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the lower rate of Jobseekers' Allowance of €117.70 per week; the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of a rate of a Jobseekers' Allowance other than €117.70 and €208 per week.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

John McKeon Secretary General (Department of Social Protection)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Pauric McPhillips Special Adviser (Department of Social Protection)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)