Over 3,000 have had social welfare payments reduced this year, cabinet to hear 

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will bring to cabinet a memo to Government on the Pathways to Work Strategy which is focused on supporting those who are long-term unemployed into the workforce. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

More than 3,000 people have had their social welfare payments cut for failure to engage with the public employment service Intreo, the Social Protection Minister will tell ministers on Tuesday.

Heather Humphreys will bring to cabinet a memo to Government on the Pathways to Work Strategy which is focused on supporting those who are long-term unemployed into the workforce. Long-term unemployment is at a record low of 1.1% and the focus of the strategy will be through further education, training, and work placement schemes.

As part of this, 50,000 people on the live register are being signed up to personal progression plans with the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo Service and will be required to meet with Intreo employment advisors fortnightly. 

Those who do not engage or who are not making a "genuine attempt" to find a job will see their payments reduced, with Ms Humphreys set to tell ministers that 3,000 people have had their social welfare payments reduced this year.

She is also set to launch a new Youth Employment Charter aimed at preventing young people from falling into long-term unemployment.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will seek Government approval for the renewal of provisions of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, for a further period of 12 months. These acts underpin the existence of the Special Criminal Court and must be renewed before June 30.

It is understood that the Minister will tell cabinet that there remains a "real and persistent threat from terrorist activity", including from dissident republican paramilitary groups which remain active in the State.

Ms McEntee's view is that the existence of such groups, as well as extremism both domestically and internationally, warrants the continuance of the laws.

In June 2023 the Minister for Justice published both the majority and minority reports of the Independent Review Group appointed to examine the Offences Against the State Acts. The Department of Justice is continuing to consider the report.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath will also update Cabinet on the National Payments Strategy, and the Access to Cash Bill, which is now in a consultation period with the European Central Bank.

The General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill was published in January 2024. It protects access to cash for the public, at December 2022 levels — with specific ATM cover, per kilometre distance and per 100,000 people.

Mr McGrath will also ask Government to approve the text of the Motor Insurance Insolvency Compensation Bill 2024 which transposes aspects of EU legislation changing the level of cover given to Irish motorists when driving across the EU.

It means drivers can freely travel across the EU with similar levels of compulsory insurance so that when accidents occur, injured parties are protected.