Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will streamline the current situation where people coming off FÁS courses are left without a direct continuation of welfare payment while seeking work; if they are unable to obtain work in the meantime, it can take up to five to six weeks before a jobseeker's payment is resumed; if she will implement a smooth and direct transition over to the appropriate welfare payment rather than the existing system whereby these people have to apply for a supplementary welfare payment in the interim as this is causing additional administration time delays in the welfare system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37904/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In cases where a jobseeker customer takes up temporary work for a short period or avails of a short-term training course, arrangements are in place to temporarily suspend the claim so that it can be re-instated without delay when the work or training finishes.

When a customer receives an offer of temporary employment or a training course they should give full details to their social welfare local office and contact the office without delay when the course or employment ends

The average processing times for jobseeker benefit claims in August 2012 was 2.35 weeks and 4.49 weeks for Jobseeker allowance claims. In cases referred to by the Deputy the processing time under the present arrangements would in most cases be less.

The Department is constantly reviewing its operational procedures to ensure that customers do not have to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments. A procedural review specifically targeting the cohort of customer who take up training courses or temporary employment is currently underway.