Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce unemployment benefit based upon the previous employment income of a person. [59078/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government and the Economic Recovery Plan include commitments to consider a pay-related jobseeker’s benefit scheme. Pathways to Work commits to using the experience from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to inform the design of such a scheme that may be developed. The introduction of a pay-related benefit for jobseekers would bring Ireland in line with the majority of EU Member States.

The core rationale for the introduction of a pay-related benefit is twofold. First, to provide a tangible return to people who make social insurance contributions as a means of better reflecting the contributory principle and strengthening the solidarity principle, both of which are at the heart of the social insurance system. Second, to better cushion people against the ‘income shock’ that arises on loss of employment.

My Department is developing proposals for a new pay-related jobseeker's benefit which would align income support with a person's prior recent employment income. I intend issuing a Strawman proposal for public consultation, which will set out the broad parameters of a possible new approach to a pay-related jobseeker benefit. The objective of the Strawman is to elicit feedback through a national public consultation process to develop a preferred policy design.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.