Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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573. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the approach that will now be taken to address ongoing issues in respect of the accessing of staff of a company to jobseeker’s and short-time work support entitlements during the TWSS period further to media reports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1052/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A review team has been set up in the Department and this team will continue to systematically review claims from employees of the company concerned for the period between March and end-August when the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was in payment. The Department is writing to individual employees of the company requesting that they contact their employer for the information that is required to complete the review.  The employer is required to complete a UP38 form in respect of the employee, providing details for each day in the review period on whether the employee was employed/remunerated.

Entitlement to a casual jobseeker's or short-time work support payment for any day during the review period depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer, including TWSS, for that day.  Each case needs to be examined individually to determine if the remuneration paid by the company concerned was in respect of a complete period or only specific days within a period.  This will determine if a person may be entitled to a casual jobseeker's payment in respect of the days on which a person did not work and were not remunerated.

My Department has continued to engage with the company and has also made an arrangement with the company that, if my Department asks its employees for particu­lar information, the company is aware of what is required and will immediately supply it to the employee  via email.

Unfortunately, because  of the volume and complexity of claims involved and the need to go back to individuals, the process will take some time.  

My staff are committed to keep processing these claims until a decision is reached on each one and it is intended to get through the claims in the coming weeks.  A response will issue to each individual applicant advising them of the decision on their claim.  The letter will also provide details of the Appeals process if a person is dissatisfied with the decision and wants to seek a review by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. 

It should be noted that all of the cases under review are currently in payment and, as only the March to August period when TWSS was in operation is under review, current payments should not be affected.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.