Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who have qualified for the full amount of the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit; the proportion of the total number of recipients this is, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21745/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I was very pleased to launch the new Jobseekers Pay-Related benefit payment at the beginning of this month and I wish to compliment the Department's staff in their development and implementation of this new scheme on time and within budget. It is a new scheme that will help people who lose their employment to cope with the sudden income-shock that always accompanies such a loss, and in addition, provide them with a better platform from which to seek alternative work.

As of 19th April, the total number of claims awarded for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit was 3,589. There were 3,469 in payment at this date of which a total of 1,805 were in receipt of the maximum €450 weekly rate of payment. A further 208 were in receipt of the maximum €300 weekly rate which is payable where a person has fewer than five years PRSI contributions. The specifics by county breakdown are not yet available. Detailed statistics on the take-up of PRB will in due course be included in the monthly statistics on the Live Register published by the Central Statistics Office.

I trust this clarifies the position.