Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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601. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the scheme or benefits introduced to replace the former jobseekers benefit which enabled a person who had lost their employment to draw a social welfare payment, while out of work, based on their insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25482/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support which has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who are fully unemployed and whose first day of unemployment is on or after 31 March 2025.

Pay-related benefit means that a person's rate of payment is linked to their previous earnings, subject to maximum and minimum rates.

Under this scheme, the weekly rate of payment for a person with at least 5 years paid PRSI contributions is set at 60% of previous earnings, up to a maximum of €450 for the first 13 weeks. After that, the rate is set at 55% of previous earnings up to a maximum of €375 for the following 13 weeks. A further 13 weeks will be paid at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum €300 payment.

For people who have between two and five years contributions, the rate is set at 50% of previous earnings. This is paid up to a maximum of €300 per week, subject to a maximum duration of 26 weeks.

The minimum weekly rate of payment for the scheme is €125.

Jobseeker's Benefit is being retained for employees working short-time, part-time, casual, or on a seasonal basis, including those whose pattern of employment and unemployment is aligned with the academic year. Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) remains available for self-employed persons who become unemployed.

Further information on these supports, including details of the PRSI contributions required, is available on the Government's website.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.