Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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514. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if workers due to be made redundant in County Waterford (details supplied) will be able to avail of the pay-related jobseekers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13725/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support which replaces the current Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who become fully unemployed from 31 March 2025 and who satisfy the conditions for the scheme. Pay-related benefit means that a person's rate of payment will be linked to their previous earnings, subject to maximum and minimum rates. Government has provided almost €160 million for the scheme in 2025.

The scheme will be available to the workers referred to by the Deputy who are due to be made redundant from August.

Under this scheme, where a person has five years paid qualifying PRSI contributions, they could qualify for up to 60% of previous earnings, up to a maximum of €450 for the first three months. After that, the rate will be set at 55% of previous earnings up to a maximum of €375 for the following three months. A further three months will be paid at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum €300 payment.

For people who have between two and five years' paid PRSI contributions, the rate will be set at 50% of previous earnings. This will be paid up to a maximum of €300 per week for up to six months.

Applications for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit can be made online through MyWelfare.ie or through a person's local Intreo Centre or Branch Office from 31 March 2025. Further details of the scheme are available on the Government's website.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the deputy.