Quinn: Single-payment social welfare system will take years to set up

The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said it will take a number of years to implement a new single-payment social welfare system, which will include a cash penalty for people who don't avail of retraining.

Under the "Prediction of Exit" scheme, to be announced by the Social Protection Minister Joan Burton next week, people will be given a date when they should be off the Live Register.

Minister Quinn has said the relevant Departments need to upgrade their IT systems in order for the new system to work.

But he has told an Oireachtas Committee that everyone has an obligation to upskill.

Mr Quinn said: "We are talking about a society of rights and of responsibilities. If you are young enough and able enough and intelligent enough to upskill you have an obligation and responsibility to avail of those opportunites that are there.

"If you choose not to, because it is a free society, you diminish your rights in terms of the amount of financial support that you get."