Offenders ‘should get vouchers not money’

IT IS “high time” those who spend their social welfare payments on drink and drugs should receive vouchers instead of cash, a judge has said.

“The sooner the day comes that vouchers and not money is handed out, the better,” Judge Seamus Hughes said at Mullingar District Court.

He was referring to “the majority, the more than 90% of young offenders who are not working, who are on social welfare and are committing public order offences”. He said they are using their social welfare payments to buy drink and drugs when it is intended to provide for “the basic necessities” such as food and clothing.