Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to an issue raised in correspondence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the social welfare system. [5654/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for these benefits that a person must be available for full-time work. Under the current system, a working week is considered to be six days. Sunday is not considered to form part of the working week and any work done on a Sunday is not reckoned when entitlement to a payment is being determined.

The benefit is only payable in respect of days of unemployment and it is not, therefore, payable in respect of any day during which the person is engaged in insurable employment, irrespective of the extent of the employment (number of hours worked) or the remuneration. Where a person is employed for up to three days in a week, they may claim jobseeker's benefit or allowance in respect of the remainder of the week, subject to being available for full-time work.

It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, with a consequent increase in the number of atypical workers. In response, the Department conducted a 'Review of the Application of the Unemployment Benefit & Assistance Schemes Conditions to workers who are not employed on a full-time basis' which examined the application of the jobseeker's benefit and allowance scheme conditions to workers who are employed part-time, casual or systematic short-time basis. The review made a number of recommendations including broadening jobseeker's scheme conditions to provide compensation for loss of employment in the case of part-time and other atypical workers. The report is under active consideration within the Department.