Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

No decision has been made in this area. The current system is unwieldy and I agree that it must be reformed. This will involve a package of structures that recognise labour market patterns and required flexibility but also protect the integrity of the jobseeker's scheme, provide incentives to employment and deliver value for money. Reform in this area is technically and administratively highly complex. As discussed earlier, we are in the process of improving many of the systems and the management of the Department's processes and administration of various schemes. Reform in the area could deliver a more flexible and responsive approach to the modern labour market but, equally, I have seen reports from one particular union on its concerns about the number of part-time workers to whom the Department is paying a social welfare income to the when, in many cases, the workers would like more work rather than more social welfare income. It is a complex area and we must try to get the best outcome so that workers have access to full-time work where available, or to more work. This will improve income dramatically above and beyond dependency on some social welfare income and some part-time work.

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