A leading lobby group for the unemployed say the social welfare system needs to change to reflect reality.
The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed has been reacting to research which shows people are passing up work in case they lose vital benefits.
The Citizens Information Board has highlighted a string of so called ‘welfare traps’ which create barriers to work or stop part time staff from taking on extra hours.
However, one Clare Fine Gael Senator has defended the government’s actions in this area.
Shannon representative Tony Mulcahy believes the Jobs Plus scheme, which rewards employers who hire workers off the live register and ensures that those people retain some benefits, is beginning to have a positive effect here in Clare.
