Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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42. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will simplify the application process for zero hour contracts and for casual employees to make it more affordable and timely, as the current process is putting an onerous burden on persons who have to get forms filled in by their employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25488/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Where a jobseeker is engaged in casual or part-time employment, the days worked each week can vary, as can the employer. Accordingly, to ensure that the correct weekly payment issues, customers are required to complete a form on a weekly basis setting out the days on which they worked and the days on which they were unemployed and also to have this form verified by their employer.

This is normally a very quick process with the returned forms scanned onto the Department’s computer system and the relevant payment due is then calculated and issued.

I recognise these arrangements can cause difficulties in a small number of cases and where this occurs, customers should contact their local Intreo centre.

While the Department reviews the way it carries out its business on an on-going basis, there are no plans at present to alter the current system for casual/part-time employees.