2,000 see dole cut for missing work schemes

Nearly 2,000 people had their dole cut last year for not attending back-to-work schemes.

Benefits were slashed by about 23% for 1,807 jobseekers as a penalty for failing to engage with case managers, and skipping interviews and group sessions.

According to the Department of Social Protection’s annual report for 2012, the penalties were put in place to encourage people to try to find work and get off the Live Register.