Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1215. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those on jobseeker's payments are being afforded leeway in terms of applying for work in view of employment restrictions; and if cuts to jobseeker's payments made since the start of the restrictions due to the applicants inability to apply for work will be reversed. [5884/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All customers making a claim for, or in receipt of a jobseekers payment must satisfy the deciding officer that they fulfil the conditions for receipt of a payment under that scheme. The genuinely seeking work and availability requirements remain for all jobseekers.

Jobseekers should continue to make efforts to secure employment with a view to taking up such employment when the current restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic are eased.  A jobseeker may continue to apply for employment by email, by phone or through an employment website such as as they would have done before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Jobseeker claims are dealt with on an individual basis and the deciding officer takes into account the circumstances of the customer and the prevailing economic situation while having regard to the conditions for the scheme.  Decisions made on each jobseeker claim are based on the information available to the deciding officer at that time. If a customer is not satisfied with the decision a review may be requested or an appeal may be lodged within 21 days.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.