Crowe challenges display of “Jail Threat” posters in Tallaght in Social Welfare office

Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe has questioned Government Ministers over the display of offensive posters in Dublin social welfare offices.

Deputy Crowe raised the matter during a Dáil committee meeting that was dealing with youth unemployment and said he was responding to a number of complaints he had received from constituents who had used the Social Welfare office in Tallaght.

Deputy Crowe said: “I have received a number of complaints from constituents using the services of social welfare offices in Tallaght. They have expressed justifiable anger at the display of posters which had a headline warning people that a 12 month jail sentence had been imposed on an individual caught working and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. The source of the headline was attributed to the Evening Herald and they have been erected in other social welfare offices.

“I have written to the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, looking for clarification in relation to these posters and to find out if their display has been officially sanctioned by her Department. These type of posters do nothing for the self-esteem of Social Welfare applicants and creates an unwelcome and adversarial atmosphere in offices.

“The facts are, the vast majority of people who find themselves in the unenviable position of having to avail of State assistance are law abiding, honest citizens. The threatening inference of the message communicated in this poster is that everyone claiming benefits are also likely to commit an offense.

“The Department has also questions to answer regarding its policy on displaying posters in Government buildings with headlines that are attributed to a commercial entity.

“I believe that it is vitally important that every effort is made to prevent welfare fraud, and at times this may necessitate highlighting the issue, but it must be done sensitively and without causing offense and this seems not to have been the case of the Social Welfare office in Tallaght.”