Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 14, after line 18, to insert the following:“Report in respect of Qualified Adults Scheme

20. The Minister for Employment and Social Protection shall, within eight months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the potential to introduce voluntary access to a scheme for qualified adults based on principles similar to those underpinning the jobseeker’s transitional payment, including targeted casework and the waiver of any requirement for full time availability.”.

I spoke extensively about amendment No. 12 when we discussed amendment No. 9. There was some overlap so I will not reiterate my key points. Amendment No. 12 refers to the question of qualified adults. My amendment seeks the issue to be re-examined and in a wider context than jobless families. There is another little group involved. For example, a person may be retired and he or she may have a qualified adult spouse who may be younger in age. There are a few cohorts involved. I appreciate that the Minister plans to examine these aspects as part of the pilot programme and I hope these issues will be teased out. I specifically wonder whether lessons can be learned from the jobseekers' transitional payment, which is in the process of improvement, in terms of targeted casework. I urge that consideration be given to child care supports and other supports that a qualified adult might need in order to access job activation opportunities. I also have questions about job readiness and upskilling, including in cases where a person wants to return to education so that the person is education ready as well as employment ready. I suggest that such matters be considered.

I know I sound like a broken record but I want something positive done about the jobseekers transitional payment. Consideration must be given to the requirement to be available for full-time employment. The waiving of that requirement for the jobseekers transitional payment was a positive move because it gave people the freedom to talk about options, and to do so honestly. I hope that such jobseekers will get the opportunity to talk about it with caseworkers but that is not what I sought with my previous amendment. I want such people to talk honestly about ways to balance care and opportunity. I suggest we apply the lessons learned to the review mentioned by Minister. I will not press my amendment.