gov.ie (20.03.2020) Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty provided an update on developments regarding her department’s Employer Refund Scheme. The new scheme allows the employer to pay the worker €203 and receive a refund from the State in the circumstances where the employer has ceased trading and as a result of financial difficulty have to temporarily lay off staff. Employers engaged with the scheme will be allowed to top up the payment provided by the State. The details are now being finalised and will be announced early next week.

citizensinformation.ie (March 2020) COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a new social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who are unemployed or who have their hours of work reduced during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This includes people who have been put on part-time or casual work. It will be paid for up to 6 weeks and has a simple one–page application form. The new payment aims to get a social welfare payment to unemployed people quickly.

Gov.ie (12.03.2020) The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are introducing measures to provide income support to people affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus). 3 major changes have been announced:

thejournal.ie (22.01.2020) The pension age increase has been a long time coming, and has caught the government and the media off-guard in how it’s led the election debate this week.

Rte.ie (16.09.2019) A new clampdown on social welfare fraud will include increased inspections and penalties for employers who falsely claim that workers are self-employed.

RTE (19.09.2019) A new clampdown on social welfare fraud will include increased inspections and penalties for employers who falsely claim that workers are self-employed. The practice estimated to cost the exchequer up to up to a quarter of a billion euro per year.

irishexaminer (11.09.2019) Irish men receive an average of €153 more than women in their pension payments, according to research by the Economic and Social Research Unit (ESRI). The study found the average total weekly pension income in 2010 was €280 for women and €433 for men, indicating a gender pension gap of approximately 35%.

RTE (05.08.2019) The latest Government report on the risks and challenges facing Ireland in the coming years has pointed to the State's ageing population as a major issue which will put stress on public finances, social welfare and health systems and economic competitiveness.

thejournal (08.07.2019)Unemployed artists will be able to receive jobseekers allowance while also focusing on their own work for 12 months.

thejournal.ie (24.04.2019) A new welfare payment which will benefit up to 60,000 new parents who are employed or self-employed is set to come into effect from November.