Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013. I wish to address three main aspects of the Bill, namely, the fact it will provide part-time firefighters with equal rights in respect of jobseeker's benefit, the support it provides in the context of assisting single parents to return to work, and the issue of PPS numbers.

In the past two years I have received many representations from retained firefighters in Monaghan and Cavan outlining their frustration at being turned down for jobseeker's benefit on the grounds that they were not available for and seeking work. The Bill provides that a retained firefighter who is on call will be deemed to satisfy the available for work condition. It also provides that any days of employment as a firefighter will not lead to an individual's weekly jobseeker's benefit payment being reduced. If a person works five days as a firefighter, he or she will also receive five days' worth of jobseeker's benefit. I commend the Minister on taking action and addressing this long-standing anomaly. As everyone is aware, retained firefighters play a vital role within their communities. The legislation will ensure their jobseeker's payments will not be reduced in any way.

I welcome the establishment of the jobseeker's transition scheme, the aim of which is to support lone parents and assist them in returning to the labour market. This scheme will allow former recipients of the one-parent family payment whose youngest child is under the age of 14 to receive the full support of the Department's activation services in returning to work, education or training. It is critical that we should provide this support to lone parents because they must traverse many difficult hurdles when trying to return to work. Many lone parents will have been out of work for a considerable period and any attempt to return to training or further education must be weighed against the prospect of high child care costs. In some instances, people may not be able to pursue training courses or schemes as a result of such costs. Essentially, therefore, they are trapped. The Bill will afford lone parents the flexibility they require. Under the transition scheme, lone parents will draw up personal development plans in conjunction with their case officers. These plans will identify suitable education, training and employment programmes that will enhance their skill sets and better equip them to return to the workplace. The scheme will also allow lone parents to seek part-time work if this better suits their family circumstances rather than being obliged to be available for and seeking full-time employment. This is a common-sense and practical approach on the part of the Minister because seeking full-time employment is simply not a possible for some lone parents.

I welcome the fact that the Bill extends the list of bodies authorised to use PPS numbers to include the Insolvency Service of Ireland, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and payment service providers authorised by the Revenue Commissioners to collect the local property tax. Will the Minister consider extending the list further to allow PPS numbers to be used in the compilation of the electoral register? Such a move would greatly improve the accuracy of that register. As Deputies are aware, the register is currently full of inaccuracies. I would welcome it if the Minister would allow for the use of PPS numbers in this way because it would be of major assistance in the context of the electoral register.

I welcome the Bill and I commend the Minister on the proactive approach she has taken in addressing the matters with which it deals.

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