Is the dole too generous?

Paddy Samurai · 11-02-2009 10:30pm

I do'nt think its too generous,but i do think we need more controls and investigating officers.Also people on extended dole(say over 1 year) should have to take part in government programmes to improve their communities etc.like in germany(see link)http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/business/worldbusiness/05euro.html

nice_guy80 · 11-02-2009 11:53pm

18 months is enough for anyone on the dole

after make them attend training courses or do community work for their dole money

Chauncey_freak · 13-02-2009 1:35pm

It was only after going on the dole that i realised that most/all of the money goes back into the economy - not only through the stuff you buy (supporting businesses) but tax.

More than a fifth of dole goes right back to Cowen through VAT - more if you buy cigs and alcohol.

Is this just sour grapes?

yoshytoshy · 13-02-2009 1:50pm

But the money a person on the dole gets ,means less money for pensions and investment in infrastructure.
Being on the dole has so many negative effects on other things ,it costs far more than the amount thats paid out.

Lobelia Overhill · 24-04-2009 4:42pm

FreedomJoe wrote: »

The dole isn't the problem.

The problem is the lack of services and care for people on the dole.

Someone can be on the dole in this country and not actually see a government official in relation to finding work!

The only thing required is for them to sign on once a month, and at Christmas time once over 2 months!

We need to introduce a system for all people on the dole and not just new applicants where you are required to sign on every two weeks in a office where you meet with an official who asks you what you have been doing for work, what other jobs are available and what training they can offer.

If you fail to meet the requirements then you lose the dole.

That's the way the dole was when I was signing on in the 90s. I had to sign on every Thursday morning and be actively seeking a job in order to qualify.

Tomatohead · 11-07-2011 9:59am

The dole is so generous in Ireland that people can be better off financially not taking a paid job, as they would lose their many other 'entitlements'.

Providing they have no serious mental or physical disabilities, what about working for their weekly pay ? Community work, or something that instils a work ethic.

I realise there are people who can barely look after themselves and for whom finding employment would be very difficult, but there is also a lot of work - shy leeches who are draining the system.

The welfare trap is not healthy for the individuals or for society as a whole. The dole is no good for the soul.

Rant over.

meditraitor · 11-07-2011 10:45am

Tomatohead wrote: »

The welfare trap is not healthy for the individuals or for society as a whole. The dole is no good for the soul.

Rant over.

And cutting welfare to british levels will improve the health of the individuals and society as a whole?

Even improve the soul?

Crazy Horse 6 · 11-07-2011 2:31pm

Tomatohead wrote: »

The dole is so generous in Ireland that people can be better off financially not taking a paid job, as they would lose their many other 'entitlements'.

Providing they have no serious mental or physical disabilities, what about working for their weekly pay ? Community work, or something that instils a work ethic.

I realise there are people who can barely look after themselves and for whom finding employment would be very difficult, but there is also a lot of work - shy leeches who are draining the system.

The welfare trap is not healthy for the individuals or for society as a whole. The dole is no good for the soul.

Rant over.

I agree let's cut the dole to the same levels as the UK, but first lets put all the same services in place for those people so they can get by.

RandolphEsq · 11-07-2011 3:14pm

It's not the dole that is the problem, but the benefits and allowances that people get. The dole itself is at an adequate level but the benefits need to be severely cut back. To attend a FÁS course and be in receipt of dole, one is entitled to travel expenses (regardless of whether it costs to travel or not), heavily subsidised food there, a financial benefit for attending the course (should be mandatory anyway if you are able-bodied), which adds up to quite a lot (can't think of other benefits off the top of my head for attending one of these courses). The speed of teaching is painfully slow and relaxed. I won't even touch single mothers and what they receive in benefits. It is too easy to receive benefits and people are treated like children the way the State seems to provide for them.

Tomatohead · 11-07-2011 4:42pm

I didn't say anything about reducing the dole to UK rates, but what Randolph said:

It is too easy to receive benefits and people are treated like children the way the State seems to provide for them.

Now that you mention it, yes it would be hugely character building, and good for the soul, if one finds out that one's payment is stopped / going to be stopped, that would force the individual to take any kind of work available and thus contribute to society.

I would like to see less of a nanny state and more tough decision- making.

donkey balls · 12-07-2011 2:16pm

My parents next door neighbor who has worked all his life and paid the top level in tax&prsi was made redundant some time ago after nearly 30yrs service in the company,I also lost my job were I also paid the top rate in prsi&tax back when it was 48% in the punt tax&7/8% prsi.
The problem we have here is that no matter how long you have worked for and the amount of tax you paid Someone who earned just say the min wage for a year or two is entitled to the same payment as the person who has contributed to the state for over 20yrs,As for retraining with the likes of FAS I went to my local office and there was not one course suitable for me to try and upskill for as I had more qualifications and experience than what the courses would offer me.
Since then I have done one private course which cost me about €1k (including exam fee) I have managed to get work in that particular area on a adhoc basis I'm also looking into doing another course which will cost around €2k as it is specialist course within the area I'm trying to get into and yet I cannot get any funding for the courses,
Even if you look at the blue brick stepping stone schemes there is only two courses which suits my skill set and is reverent to my industry yet there is sh@tload of courses in arts history etc how is someone going get a job by doing a course like them,If we are to believe in the spin that the govt go on about the export sector/manufacturing the ones who will get us out of the mess then why only have a number of courses in that area.

Is the dole too generous?

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