(1) The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 141 (as amended by section 6 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009):

"141A. Jobseeker's allowance - reduction of rates in certain circumstances.

Notwithstanding section 141, in the case of a person who -

(a) has, when requested to do so by an officer of the Minister, without good cause refused to participate, or to agree to participate, in a course of training which is considered appropriate by the officer having regard to the training needs of the person and his or her personal circumstances,

(b) has, without good cause, refused or failed to avail himself or herself of any reasonable offer of training provided or approved of by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair, or

(c) has, without good cause, refused or failed to avail himself or herself of an opportunity of participating in a programme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and the Minister pursuant to the plan commonly known as the National Employment Action Plan,

the scheduled rate of jobseeker's allowance shall be the weekly rate as set out in section 142(1A), 142A(1A) or, as the case may be, 142B(1A).".

(2) Section 142 (as amended by section 6 of the Act of 2009) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1):