Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he plans to improve processing times for those who do not have year-long contracts and must avail of social protection payments during holiday periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47456/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Workers, including those who do not have year-long contracts, who are not paid for holidays and who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off can apply for a jobseeker’s payment. The person applying must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive a payment. This includes completing the relevant claim application forms and providing supporting documentation in a timely manner while also being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work at each break.

Over the last number of years my Department has dedicated teams working solely on temporary laid-off claims, including those of Education Sector Workers, in order to streamline processes and minimise delays for people. As each claim is assessed individually, and each person's employment and claim history is different, the payment due will also be different.

In addition, my Department is working on technical enhancements that will improve the processing of these Jobseekers applications.

If any customer is in urgent financial need my Department’s Community Welfare Service may provide assistance.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1437. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to reduce and remove the means test for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47457/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the key role that family carers play in Irish society and remains committed to supporting them.

In July, the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.  This change broadens access to the scheme, allowing more carers to qualify for the support.

Building on this progress, the Programme for Government has committed to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test over the lifetime of the Government.

Phasing out the means test is a major change to the Carer's Allowance and to the Irish social welfare system generally.  It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable, and which does not unduly limit our scope to support other vulnerable groups.

Any further changes to the Carer's Allowance means test will be considered within an overall policy and budgetary context.