Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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544. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons enrolled in the activation and family support programme; and the amount of funding allocated to the scheme per annum. [26028/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) enables my Department to assist local organisations and agencies to implement projects addressing the needs of recipients of welfare payments and their families, to provide progression routes into education, training and employment.

The application of the funding is largely responsive to demand identified by local organisations who apply for funding for a project via my Department’s activation services.  The programme is designed to fund projects that have the capacity to result in positive changes in the circumstances of our customers and their families. Funding applications come from a wide range of organisations including family resource centres, partnerships, community development companies and advocacy groups.

Approximately 240 learners attended courses co-funded by the programme in 2020 with an approximate expenditure of €162,000.

A budget of €600,000 is provided for this programme in 2021. A number of courses are currently approved or underway. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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545. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [26048/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are 3 categories of claimant who may qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit while partially employed.  They are short-time workers, casual workers and part-time workers. In order to classify a person as either a short-time, part-time or casual work employee, each case is examined on its merits having regard to the person’s employment history, any fluctuation in the number of days worked, the systematic pattern of the work days, the existence of a contract of employment and if the employee is in receipt of a set wage.   

In this case, the customer is considered a part-time worker. He is not categorised as a short-time worker as the number of days worked is not systematic i.e. there is no clear repetitive pattern of employment, nor is he categorised as a casual worker given his circumstances including that he  has assurance of repeat employment from the same employer. In order to requalify for Jobseekers Benefit when a claim exhausts benefit, a part-time worker has to satisfy the substantial loss of employment condition.

The duration of payment for Jobseeker’s Benefit is 9 months (234 Cumulative Total) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for 6 months (156 Cumulative Total) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid. The Department corresponds with the Jobseeker's Benefit recipient in advance of the expiry date of their claim and advises of the option to apply for the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.  Jobseeker's Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions, including the means test.

 My officials have examined the cumulative total of days paid in the individual’s claim to date and are satisfied that the figure recorded in the Department is correct.

 The customer has re-applied for Jobseeker's Benefit and a decision will be made on his application once all the required documentation has been submitted.