Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to pay for bank and public holidays accrued while receiving illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39747/24]

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

Illness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance contribution conditions.

Illness Benefit is paid from Monday through to Saturday. There is no entitlement to receive payment on Sundays. Illness Benefit is paid for bank holidays with the exception of any public holiday that falls on a Sunday.

With regards to entitlement to pay from their employer for bank and public holidays, I cannot speak to the entitlements or otherwise from their employer, as this is governed by the Working Time Act of 1997, and is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties in meeting her basic financial commitments, it is also open to her to contact the Community Welfare Service at her local Intreo Centre to see if she might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.