Dole Life

Shauna (21) is tired of scraping by on €77 a week in benefits – barely enough money to live on, never mind socializing with her mates in Dublin’s vibrant gay scene. Living with her Dad in Bettystown, Shauna is feeling very isolated and dreams of getting her own place in Dublin. Meanwhile, Trinity graduate Lloyd quit his sandwich making minimum wage job to create his own artisan soup business, but life as a budding entrepreneur is tough going. With two toddlers to care for, young single mother and early school leaver Kelly (22) has only herself to rely on. Any potential work or career opportunity has to be carefully weighed against the crippling cost of childcare. University dropout Avril (26) is six years on the dole and desperately looking for a proper career, rather than any old minimum wage job. Will she gamble on a JobBridge placement in the hopes that it will lead to her golden ticket – a full-time, permanent job. Formerly homeless James (22) from Dublin’s North Inner City is starting from a low point. An early school leaver he became homeless following tensions at home and was forced to stay in drug-ridden hostels while trying to hold down a full time job, albeit with part time hours. Now with a roof over his head he is back on the job hunt, with limited success.

In episode two, of Dole Lives we meet a range of participants of 18-to-25 year olds, part of the so called Wasted Generation, who are desperately seeking an employment break in Ireland with very mixed results. EPISODE TWO OF THREE, RTÉ TWO, NOVEMBER 8TH AT 9.30pm Trinity Graduate, Lloyd continues his quest to build a small food business, but the cold mornings and poor takings are beginning to take a toll on his enthusiasm. Over in the North Strand, James’ options are stark – either continue on what seems like a fairly fruitless job hunt or take up a horticulture course for twelve months, which would allow him to increase his unemployment allowance. Meanwhile, in Athy, things are on the up for single mother Kelly, who was effectively left a widow at 21 when the father of her two baby sons passed away. Determined to set a good example for her boys, she has set her heart on a course in community care, which she hopes will allow her to study full time and provide free access to creche care. In Clondalkin, single mother Katie has a lot of child rearing support from her parents and family and is determined that being a single mother won’t deny her a career. However, getting any kind of a foothold in employment is proving difficult and Katie is left to assessing her options. In leafy Rathfarnham, 19-year-old Louis is on the cusp of full-fledged adulthood, but is getting bored and frustrated on having to survive on the the odd handout from his parents. To boost these meagre takings he decides to take a bit of an entrepreneurial risks by setting up his own funk based clubnight in Twisted Pepper in Dublin’s City Centre. Over in Smithfield, Avril has gotten over her earlier misgivings about JobBridge as she accepts a placement with Jigsaw, a youth mental health service and it seems finally after six years of an endless jobhunt, Avril’s luck is about to turn. Meanwhile in Bettystown, Shauna is feeling down and out after being fired from her r

In the final episode of Dole Lives: Trinity graduate, Lloyd has gotten straight back into the job hunting game after calling time on his micro business making soup, but despite a follow-on job offer, he is looking to adventure abroad. Over in Rathfarnham, Louis’ family connections have finally paid off and he has the offer of bar work somewhere very exciting. Meanwhile, in Athy, things are on the up for single mother Kelly, whose search for a solid, stable job takes a turn for the positive when she receives a contract to work a few hours a week. In Clondalkin single mother Katie’s dreams come true as everything starts to fall into place. Over in Smithfield, Avril’s temporary placement with Jigsaw, a youth mental health service, bears fruit. Meanwhile in Bettystown, Shauna has revealed that a lot more has been playing on her mind than merely looking for work.