Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Lobbying Organisation Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Date published 21 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details In July, the INOU participated in the Department of Social Protection’s Pre-Budget Forum, which took place in Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Intended results To engage with the Ministers and Department officials on the three key aspects of the INOU 2023 Pre-Budget Submission: Adequate Income; Inclusive Labour Market; and Activation Programmes; and through this engagement seek to secure better outcomes for unemployed people and others of working age from the forth coming Budget. In particular to argue for core social welfare rates to be increased by €20 per week; and for more responsive supports and services.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Brid O'Brien

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.

Meeting (1)

In our Pre-Budget submission the INOU urged the Government to benchmark all social welfare rates at a level which is sufficient to lift people above the poverty line and provide them with a Minimum Essential Standard of Living. To move on this issue and to support people reliant on a social welfare to cope in these challenging times, core social welfare rates must be increased by at least €20 per week. It is imperative that Ireland addresses structural inequalities in our labour market and that the Public Employment Service is inclusive, responsive, and capable of serving the needs of all people of working age. Participation in education, training and employment programmes costs money, and improved supports are urgently required. Even before the current cost of living crisis, €22.50 additional payment on Community Employment and Tus was deemed inadequate, and it should be increased by €7.50 in Budget 2023.

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.

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Damien English Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)

John McKeon Secretary General (Department of Social Protection)