Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if personal assistants, who work with those with disabilities at third-level institutes and who have to sign on for jobseeker’s allowance during term breaks, including the summer, can have a streamlined application process due to the nature of their work contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46188/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Educational Sector Workers including Personal Assistant’s who are assigned students with additional needs at third level institutes, who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school term breaks, including the summer, can apply for a jobseeker’s payment but must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive this payment. This includes completing the relevant claim application forms and supporting documentation a in a timely manner while also being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work at each school break.

Seasonal workers including educational workers should apply for a jobseeker’s payment as soon as they become unemployed. A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not being remunerated for by their employer, including receipt of any holiday pay entitlement during the school break.

Educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This advance process facilitates an efficient service to these customers and allows for speedy processing of their claim when the period of unemployment actually arises.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.