Dole cuts jobless man’s benefit for protesting against unemployment

THERE has been widespread outrage and shock across the north-west as a man who led a protest walk from Donegal to Dublin in opposition to austerity measures and unemployment had his dole payment cut.

Labour Party Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has been challenged by Sinn Féin Donegal County Councillor Jack Murray to rescind the cut.

Joe Murphy from Culdaff in Donegal led a small protest march from County Donegal to Dublin where he met up with anti-household charge campaigners outside the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last month. The 500km anti-austerity walk captured the imagination of many throughout Ireland with Murphy even appearing on The Late Late Show on RTÉ.

But the unemployed builder has revealed how he had four days of his dole cut because the Department of Social Protection considered him “unavailable for work”.

“I was allowed 12 days holidays and I think everyone on the dole is entitled to that. But I was cut four days dole money because they said I was unavailable for work. Because I was on the protest walk, they said I was not available,” he said.

“I have nothing against the Social Welfare office staff in Buncrana. They have been more than helpful. They are only following orders.” he said.

“Because I lost four days on the dole there was no money for my family. My wife had to depend on the goodwill of family and friends.”

Sinn Féin Donegal County Councillor Jack Murray told An Phoblacht the decision to cut Joe Murphy's dole payment was “low” and “beneath contempt”.

“It was a low move by the state. It was also counter-productive as Joe is even more determined to keep up his campaign to protest against austerity and raise awareness to the impact of government policies that are putting families on the breadline.”