Introduce pay-related jobseeker's benefit

What this means

• The Irish government has committed to introducing a pay-related jobseeker's benefit, meaning unemployment payments would be linked to what a person previously earned.[source]
• This commitment sits within the social protection policy area and is currently in progress, with no fixed delivery deadline set.[source]
• The Department of Social Protection, led by Minister Dara Calleary, is responsible for operating and reviewing this new benefit.[source]
• The aim is to make jobseeker's supports better reflect a person's prior earnings, rather than paying a flat rate to everyone who loses their job.[source]
• This commitment was first stated on 23 January 2025 as part of the Programme for Government, making it a formal government promise that can be tracked for delivery.[source]

Direct impact (3)

• delivery owned by body
  Department of Social ProtectionBody
• delivery owned by officeholder
  Dara CallearyOfficeholder
• implements mandate
  Provision of social welfare income supportsMandate

Indirect impact (8)

Two-hop relationships traced through the entity above. Useful for spotting downstream knock-on effects.

• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Teachta Dála2-hop via dara-calleary
  Dáil ÉireannBody
• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht2-hop via dara-calleary
  Department of Rural and Community DevelopmentBody
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-social
  Extend hot school meals to all primary schoolsCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-social
  Maintain the State pension age at 66Commitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-social
  Significantly increase the Carer's Allowance income disregardCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → member of party2-hop via dara-calleary
  Fianna FáilParty
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Expand Local Link rural transport servicesCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Target balanced regional population growthCommitment