Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for her reply. We need to be unequivocal in this. During a radio programme this morning, some of the staff involved spoke of their working hours being limited to 15 hours per week spread over five days, which means they are not eligible for social assistance from the Department of Social Protection. Not only are they not getting any form of contract from their employer, but they are also being denied access to basic social welfare payments because of the structure of their working hours. There are many problems in terms of basic employment rights and the facilitation of people with working hours which allow them to claim their entitlements from the Department of Social Protection.

By way of an aside, has Dunnes Stores ever made an application under the JobBridge scheme?

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