Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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620. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if recommendations contained in the report on part-time and seasonal workers' entitlements presented to her in 2017 have been decided on; when legacy issues which are adversely affecting this sector of employment will be addressed; her plans for dealing with the issues affecting these workers; the timeframe for implementing the necessary changes to help this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6796/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s main social welfare schemes for unemployed persons are the jobseeker’s allowance and the jobseekers benefit schemes. Both schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s schemes of €2.17 billion.

An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask 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. It is important in the interests of equity and fairness that the conditions for receipt of a jobseekers payment apply to all recipients, including those who could be categorised as seasonal and part-time workers.

My Department does operate a fast-tracking system for customers including seasonal workers who sign-off their jobseeker’s allowance or jobseeker’s benefit claim to take up work or a training course for a period of up to 12 weeks. In these cases, the claim is not closed. Rather, payment is suspended temporarily for the duration of the work or training course. When the person signs on again after the period of work or training, the claim can be reactivated without delay and payment restored.

My officials have recently completed a report on these issues which I will consider in detail. My Department is also currently collating data in relation to those who qualify for jobseeker’s benefit and who are in subsidiary employment. We will have 12 months of data gathered by May 2018 at which point I will be in a better position to make an informed decision on this issue.