Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There will be an actuarial review. Once we see that, we will know what condition it is in and will be able to open a discussion based on the expert information at that point. As of now, I am confident it is in relatively good shape but I am awake to the challenges that face it. That is why the review will dictate where we go next.

On the pay-related jobseeker's payment, we will review the scheme. Before I continue, I wish to acknowledge the work that has gone into it, particularly by the Department and our technical team. They put considerable work into making the changes that were needed. It worked, seeing as how people did not hear about it. We changed the technical side of the Department entirely to facilitate this. I thank everybody involved.

We will review the scheme but we want it to get up and running. The review, which will probably take place informally towards the end of this year, will feed into progress on the next stage of the pay-related benefit around parental benefit. We want to learn from this scheme to see how it has worked and what changes may be needed. There are approximately 12,000 people currently availing of the pay-related jobseeker's benefit. It is right on profile in terms of where the Department estimated it would be. We will definitely review it, particularly because of the commitment in the programme for Government around parental leave in this space.