Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions for seasonal workers (details supplied) who are ineligible for jobseeker’s benefit or allowance who worked in the tourism industry for a number of years and had not commenced their seasonal employment when Covid-19 lockdowns commenced. [13680/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme to support employees who have lost their employment due to COVID-19. The scheme does not provide support for potential or prospective but unrealised employment.

Where a person is not eligible for PUP, they may apply for a Jobseeker payment. Jobseeker's Benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI paid contributions. It is paid for 6 months (156 days) for people with less than 260 PRSI paid contributions. Where the individual’s entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit exhausts, they can apply for Jobseekers Allowance which is means tested.

Where a person is experiencing financial hardship, they can apply for assistance through the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

The Department's Public Employment Service is available to everyone of working age, including those who are not in receipt of a Social Welfare payment. It is open to a person to contact their local Intreo Centre to request an appointment with a case officer to discuss their options.

I trust that this clarifies the position for you.