The Government is said to be in negotiations with Ticketmaster in a bid to outsource dole office operations. With mounting unemployment, lengthening queues, and social welfare offices under serious pressure, outsourcing dole payments could save the State €120 million per year as well as ease stress levels among civil servants.
“It’s an elegant solution in line with public/private partnership,” a Department of Finance official stated. “Not only could we save a huge amount of money, but it would take away the stigma of queueing. Passersby wouldn’t know if you were on line to pick up a welfare cheque or try to score some Electric Picnic tickets.”
Not everyone, however, is impressed. Concert goers have expressed worry that getting tickets to popular events could be made even more time consuming, while dole recipients worry about the inevitable handling charges as well as the temptation for some to blow the entire week’s welfare payment on front row tickets to see Leonard Cohen, which could lead to more financial hardship and increased depression.
