Burton plays down agency report on welfare traps

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has played down a report by a department agency which suggests that welfare traps are leaving people stuck on government benefits.

Ms Burton’s department said yesterday it was examining the Citizens Information Board (CIB) report looking at disincentives for people to return to the workplace.

Officials pointed out that a small number of welfare claimants were in receipt of such payments and that most people out of work wanted to get a job.