Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's approach to applications for jobseeker's holiday entitlement, in particular to the fact that applicants for the entitlement will have their payment suspended and backdated upon their return; her views that it is fair that jobseekers should have to survive without payment during this period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21555/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Jobseeker customers can take up to two weeks paid holiday days per calendar year, that is, for any period (consecutive or non-consecutive) of 12 days. Jobseekers are entitled to payment in respect of their claim (including dependants where applicable) for the holiday period without being subject to the normal conditions of the scheme.

The jobseeker schemes are paid weekly in arrears with the customer certifying that they did satisfy the conditions of the scheme. Where a customer avails of the holiday option, payment continues to be in arrears, with the customer presenting to their Intreo Centre on return from holidays to have their payment for the holiday period issued.

My Department has no plans at this time to alter the principal of payment in arrears for jobseekers claims.