Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Social Protection pursuant to changes made under the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013 with regard to retained fire fighters accessing jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit, if those fire fighters, in training where a new fire station is due to open in the autumn (details supplied), may benefit from these changes now that they have commenced training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21699/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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For jobseeker’s benefit purposes, legislation was introduced in 2013 whereby employment as a retained part-time firefighter is considered subsidiary employment at all times and they are also exempt from the substantial loss condition if they are not otherwise employed. Consequently, a day on which a retained firefighter is not otherwise employed or self-employed is deemed to be a day of unemployment for jobseeker’s benefit purposes. Retained part-time firefighters who qualify for jobseeker’s benefit do not have to sign off for days on which they are in training or working as a firefighter.

Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested payment and earnings are taken into account in determining means. A disregard of €20 a day (up to a maximum of €60) applies up to a maximum of 3 days and the balance is assessed at 60%. In determining the assessable income from insurable employment, the following deductions are allowed: superannuation, additional voluntary contributions, PRSI, the pension levy and trade union subscriptions. Jobseeker’s allowance is not payable where the average means are equal to or in excess of the relevant family rate of payment.

Part-time firefighters are subject to the conditions of being available for and seeking full-time work as are all other jobseekers.