Ani O'Brien: The facts behind the Jobseeker changes for 18–19-year-olds

There’s been a lot of noise this week about the Government’s plan to tighten access to the Jobseeker benefit for 18 and 19-year-olds. Depending on which paper you read, it’s either “a cruel attack on youth” or “a long-overdue dose of common sense.” Let’s strip it down to what’s actually being proposed, who’s saying what, and where the real risks and benefits lie.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 20/6/23

Oops – govt could do better with childhood education initiative (as it admits just a few weeks after Budget Day announcement)

A Government backdown can mean a policy has gone down badly with voters. Or it can mean a programme may not be working as well as was intended, perhaps because of unintended consequences.

In the case of childhood education, a Budget announcement that looked like it was packaged to attract the votes of delighted parents has turned out to have been problematic with its consequences.