SF: Social Welfare offers Donegal man job in Malta

The Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has called on Social Protection Minister Joan Burton to clarify if it is the policy of her department to seek low-paid jobs abroad for unemployed Irish people.

The Donegal deputy raised the issue after one of his constituents told him that the Social Welfare Department had written to him about a bus driver job in Malta, paying €250 per week.

The man is 60 years old and the letter, below, he received from the Department was signed off with the words, "Wishing you every success".

Deputy Doherty has described the move as "outrageous" and has asked the Minister to comment on the matter.

The SF TD said: "They told him that in the first week he would have free rent then he would have to find his own accommodation.

"I think when you read the letter it talks about €250 a week which is well below what it would be in Ireland, indeed less than the minimum wage in Ireland.

"However, they go on in the letter to say that the climate is Mediterranean, so although you are only getting €250 a week, the department are promising a tan in the meantime."