Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of the groups excluded from the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, in particular the seasonal, casual, short-time or part-time workers such as school caretakers and secretaries who could benefit considerably from receiving the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit in lieu of the jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/25]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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Maidin mhaith do gach duine. As is often the case, my question is very simple and straightforward. It gives the Minister the chance to explain why a category of workers, particularly those in seasonal, casual, short-term or part-time employment, such as school caretakers and secretaries but not exclusively, are excluded from the Government’s new pay-related jobseeker's benefit.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Maidin mhaith ar ais duit, a Theachta.

The new jobseeker's pay-related benefit was introduced at the end of March. This new social insurance-based income support has replaced the jobseeker's benefit scheme for those who have become fully unemployed since the commencement of the scheme on 31 March. On 7 June 2025, some 11,900 jobseeker's pay-related benefit claims had been awarded under the new scheme.

The origin of this payment is the experience during the Covid period, when many workers lost their incomes suddenly and without warning. The PUP, which was pay-related, helped to cushion the income shock.

The jobseeker's pay-related benefit extends the same principle to people who lose their income unexpectedly. It links the rate of payment to a person's previous earnings to provide a financial cushion when a person loses their employment entirely. It allows them to adjust to a period of uncertainty associated with unemployment. The scheme aims to support a person during this initial period while they seek alternative employment and adjust their outgoings.

The legislation underpinning the scheme specifically provides that specific categories of atypical workers are excluded from the jobseeker's pay-related benefit. These exclusions apply to those referred to by the Deputy, who often work on a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal basis. The conditions for the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit scheme are not designed to provide in-work support on a recurring and intermittent basis.

Seasonal workers and those whose employment patterns align with the academic year have a predictable or ongoing pattern of work and can plan accordingly. However, within the Department we seek to be proactive. We have already communicated with more than 8,000 people who we know have the work patterns in question to ensure no delay in going on to benefits as soon as the school year ends. At this point, I do not plan to include them in the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit scheme.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I will hold the Minister to that. I will be back here in September to check against delivery, as the Government often states regarding its statements.

The Minister has not advanced any satisfactory justification for why the group has been excluded. He states they can predict they are going to be unemployed, but even if you know you are going to be broke or are surprised by being broke in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, you are still broke.

At the committee meeting last week, the Minister spoke at length about his commitment to make some efforts with regard to child poverty, which I do not doubt for a moment, but what about the children of school secretaries, school caretakers, seasonal workers and those on very low incomes? Just because they know they are going to be struggling does not mean they will be struggling any less. Will the Minister reconsider his decision and examine the group I have mentioned, in particular, perhaps in the context of the cost-of-living crisis or commitments on child poverty? The Minister should do whatever it takes and consider again the groups who are excluded.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I am always open to considering the Deputy's suggestions. We will be reviewing the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit after a year of operation. This is the first time in more than 40 years we have had such a benefit. In connection with other questions that have arisen, it will provide the foundation for other potential pay-related benefits.

If there are relevant cases, the Deputy should bring them to my attention. We are proactively engaging with those we know have a particular pattern of employment at this time of the year, particularly in the academic sector. More than 8,000 people have been contacted in the past several weeks. If there are any cases, I would like to hear about them before September so we do not have any delays in people getting their income payments.

As of now, I have no plans to review the scheme but I will certainly be happy to have a discussion with the Deputy in the context of the overall review, which will take place after a year.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister to charge the people doing the review with the responsibility of looking at seasonal workers. To be frank, that is possibly the least that the Minister could do but I ask that he do that. There should be some engagement about the people who are excluded with the trade union, Fórsa, because it represents the bulk of the secretaries and caretakers. It is not just them but all seasonal workers. There is a more favourable rate of jobseeker's benefit available and a group of low-income workers is excluded from it. Does the Minister see where I am going with this? These are not people who are on big money. When people are on jobseeker's, they are broke. It does not matter if they have known for a couple of weeks that they are going to be on jobseeker's. If there is a more favourable rate available, I am sure the Minister can imagine how those excluded from that rate feel for the weeks of the year when they do not get any payment. These are the only people in the school who will not be paid over the summer. I am not saying they are treated as second-class citizens. I am saying they have possibly every right to feel like they are, then they look at the jobseeker's benefit and see the same treatment applied. I ask that the Minister look at this group in particular.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely. I am always open to any engagement with unions on this. This system was designed for workers who are going to be re-employed relatively quickly. Hopefully in the coming weeks, we will get the first signal of that, because the first cohort of people will be coming to the end of the top payment of 13 weeks. That payment declines as they are no longer employed so to do a full comparison between jobseeker's pay-related benefit and other things will take some time in terms of people's experience and the length of time people are on it. It is designed to assist people as they seek other jobs. The group the Deputy mentioned will be going back to other jobs in September. What I want to do in the immediate term is make sure that their transition is as seamless as possible. I am more than happy to engage with the Deputy, the House and any unions about how we can make that transition much easier. We will also engage with the Deputy in the context of the overall review, which will be in the middle of next year after about a year of jobseeker's pay-related benefit.