Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for making himself available. He always responds to his own Topical Issues. I am grateful for his presence, bearing in mind the week that is in it.

The issue I am raising pertains to seasonal part-time workers who play an essential and critical role in the tourism, farming and fishing sectors. During a debate on the Social Welfare Bill 2016 last November we agreed to withdraw a Report Stage amendment on this issue following the giving of a commitment by the Minister to conduct a review within three months. I am disappointed that almost six months later, there is still no sign of the report in question. The report was to have been made available in March or April this year, but we are now at the end of May and it is still not available.

The anomalies in the current social welfare rules and regulations make it virtually impossible for seasonal part-time workers to access social welfare entitlements when the season ends. The requirement for such workers to make a further 13 weeks of contributions within the final 78 days of their existing claim period of 234 days is particularly problematic. It is just not possible. Depending on the day on which existing claims expire, it does not allow for the seasonality of the sectors to which I have referred. Some workers' claims are expiring when seasonal work is no longer available. The current system, therefore, works against part-time and seasonal workers. The requirement to have paid 117 contributions in a three-year period equates to 39 contributions per annum. It is almost impossible to find 39 weeks of seasonal work. The current position can only be described as a poverty trap. The income threshold of €12.70 a day, or €63.50 a week, is unfair. If a seasonal worker earns such an amount from his or her secondary income source, he or she will not be eligible to receive unemployment benefit. It defies logic that a low annual subsidiary income of €3,302 is sufficient to deny someone the right to obtain a social welfare payment.

I want to put in context the income levels about which we are talking. A seasonal part-time worker typically earns between €5,500 and €8,500 during his or her working season. Many of these workers who are on very low incomes have no other skills other than those needed for the seasonal work in which they engage. I remind the House that they play an important role in the tourism, fishing and farming sectors. These zero-hour contract workers have very little job security. Many of them have worked as seasonal part-time workers every year for many years. I know people in my constituency who have engaged in seasonal work for over 20 years but who in the past two years have been unable to access social welfare contributions. It makes no sense. I know that Deputy Leo Varadkar is a caring Minister who wants to do something about this. He said earlier today that he did not want to sign off on reports until he knew where he would be next week. I suggest that because he has a handle on this issue, he sign off on the report and deal with it as quickly as possible.

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