The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection was registering entire private companies for the Public Services Card despite an ongoing investigation into the project by the Data Protection Commissioner.

The Citizens Information service has joined with Teagasc to publish a Supports for Farmers booklet, an up-to-date overview of available entitlements and services.

Employers are reluctant to hire the long-term unemployed and more must be done to encourage them, according to the new junior social protection minister Kevin Humphreys.

A new integrated employment and support service has been launched by the Department of Social Protection today.