In cases where a person's working hours have been reduced employees may claim part-time jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment where they are not being remunerated.
To qualify for a jobseekers payment a person must be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7 consecutive days. Jobseekers benefit is available to people who have sufficient social insurance contributions paid and satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.
Where a person doesn’t qualify for jobseekers benefit they may be eligible for the means tested jobseekers allowance.
I would advise that the individuals involved engage with their local Intreo centre to determine the appropriate support available to them.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.