Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the contents of his Department's report into seasonal workers in County Donegal and the barriers in accessing basic social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17849/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that I would ask my officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having subsidiary employment. As a result, my Department is currently undertaking two reports – one in relation to the subsidiary employment daily earnings limit of €12.70 and the second in relation to the duration of jobseeker’s benefit.

My intention is to present these reports to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection for its consideration shortly. The timeframe is ambitious but I am committed to producing the reports as quickly as possible so that they can inform Budget 2018 discussions.