Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of non-EU citizens claiming jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance; the number on jobseeker's benefit for more than 12 months and 18 months, respectively; the number who have signed on for jobseeker's benefit since its restriction to a 12-month payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6143/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Non-EU nationals living in Ireland are entitled to work here provided they have the appropriate visa. Where a person employed on a work permit loses his/her job they may qualify for a jobseeker's payment for the unexpired period of the work permit. In all cases, non-EU nationals who qualify for a jobseeker's payment must satisfy all the conditions of the schemes. In this respect, they are treated no differently to EU nationals.

At the end of January 2009 there were 6,507 jobseeker's benefit and 3,543 jobseeker's allowance claimants on the Live Register from non-EU countries. Of the 6,507 jobseeker's benefit claimants, 2,412 made their claim on or after the 15th October 2008 when the changes to the jobseeker's benefit scheme announced in Budget 2009 were introduced. 84 non-EU claimants have been in receipt of jobseeker's benefit for longer than 12 months. The maximum length of a Jobseeker's claim is 15 months where the claim was made prior to 15th October 2008.