Long-term jobless welfare may be reduced

A “PHASING OUT” of social welfare payments for the long-term unemployed as an incentive for them to return to work is being considered as part of Ireland’s EU/IMF bailout deal.

The European Commission mission chief to Ireland has confirmed discussions were held with Social Protection Minister Joan Burton on cutting welfare spending.

Istvan Szekely pointed out that in other countries welfare payments were gradually phased out as a way of preventing people falling into “inactivity traps”.