asked the Minister for Social Welfare if persons who do a retraining course in an AnCO training centre are deemed to be employed; if so, if they have to wait three days after the course finishes before becoming entitled to unemployment benefit, bearing in mind that they had to wait three days having already become unemployed prior to commencing the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Trainees.
34.
Unemployed persons who attend a retraining course at an AnCO training centre are deemed to be employed for the purposes of the unemployment benefit scheme and they are not entitled to benefit for the duration of the course.
In the case of persons who were in receipt of unemployment benefit prior to the commencement of such a course the question of waiting days being deducted on the resumption of claiming unemployment benefit depends on the duration of the course.
Waiting days only arise when the interval between the date on which payment of unemployment benefit ceased and the date on which a claim was resumed is in excess of 13 weeks. Where the period is less than 13 weeks the person's previous claim for benefit continues without further waiting days.
While the serving of waiting days at the end of the course can be disadvantageous, in certain cases it can also be of advantage to the persons concerned in that they are entitled to claim benefit for a full 390 days. If on the other hand the course was of less than 13 weeks duration, the previous claim for unemployment benefit continues without waiting days but the persons concerned are entitled only to the unexpired portion of their earlier claims. On balance I feel these arrangements operate in the best interests of claimants.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.