Ireland’s welfare rates ‘not generous’

An economic think-tank has sought to challenge the perception that social welfare rates are “generous” when measured against the remuneration the person would receive if they chose to work.

The Nevin Economic Research Institute (Neri) was responding to the OECD’s Economic Survey of Ireland, published last week.

Neri said the OECD report pointed to challenges for households on low incomes who, in situations where they are in receipt of payments such as rent supplement, face limited monetary gains when taking up work often in low-paid sectors of the labour market.