Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The fact is that under the social welfare code as it stands a person can work for eight hours per day, three days per week - that is, 24 hours of work - and still receive a social welfare support under the jobseeker's payment. However, a person cannot work for four hours per day, five days per week. He or she is denied it even though they are working four hours fewer per week as a result of that. This model was designed in an era of full-time employment. We have an awful lot more people who are working flexible hours or part of the week and the whole culture of employment has changed. The whole social welfare code should reflect that and that flexibility should be built into it.

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