Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

290. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the new jobseeker's allowance scheme will be available to persons recently made redundant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38563/24]

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

As part of Budget 2025, I announced that the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme will be available from 31st March 2025.

I have already passed the legislation as part of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 which sets out the legislative framework for the new scheme. As this is a fundamental reform in social policy, this lead-in time is necessary to provide for the ICT changes that are required for the new scheme to come into operation.

In the intervening period, anyone finding themselves unemployed can apply for the existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme.