Social Welfare Data 'Misinterpreted' Say ESRI

The OECD and the International Monetary Fund have misinterpreted data on Irish social welfare rates, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute.

The Troika has been pressing the Government to make changes to the social welfare system, claiming that a high level of welfare payments can act as a disincentive to unemployed people to take paid work.

However, according to new research by the ESRI, social welfare payments to a majority of unemployed people in Ireland are in line with the European average, stating that only a small number of people are better off on social welfare than taking a job.

The Troika claim is based on figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

They show that Ireland has one of Europe's highest replacement rates - the percentage of a person's salary replaced by social welfare if they lose their job.

This has been challenged by the ESRI, which says Irish replacement rates are only high when rent and mortgage supplement are included.

As only one in eight jobseekers gets this supplement, the ESRI argues it should be excluded from comparative figures.

On this basis, Irish welfare payments are in line with the west European average.

It says only 6% of the total population would be better off on the dole than working, and of this group around three quarters have jobs and chose to work.

(H)