Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of cases where persons who commenced a self-employed role in 2023 and subsequently became unemployed in 2025 are facing issues with accessing jobseeker’s benefit due to the move to pay-related jobseekers benefit this year; whether his Department has any plans to assist this cohort of people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50600/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The position is being examined by my Department to resolve the matter.

This anomaly, which will impact a small number of individuals, has arisen as a result of the PRSI contributions required for the various jobseeker's schemes. The new Jobseeker's Pay-related Benefit scheme requires applicants to have a recent PRSI PAYE contribution record whereas the Jobseeker's Benefit for the self-employed relies on self-employed contributions paid some two years previously.

If the Deputy has a particular case that has been affected by this situation, I would advise that he provides the details to my Department for review.