Vol. 463 No. 2
83 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will amend the social welfare code in order to allow people returning from career breaks in the Civil Service to claim social welfare benefit or allowance in view of the fact that they cannot obtain re-employment in view of the current embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/96]
Civil servants employed before 6 April 1995 are insured at a modified rate of PRSI contribution which does not provide cover for unemployment benefit. Full PRSI cover was extended to all new public sector employees, including new entrants to the civil service, recruited on or after 6 April 1995.
Persons who are on a career break from the Civil Service and who are awaiting re-employment are not entitled to claim unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance as they fail to satisfy one of the conditions for the receipt of those payments which requires them to be continuously unemployed. Having regard to the conditions governing career breaks in the Civil Service, I have no plans to amend the social welfare code to allow persons on such breaks awaiting re-employment to claim unemployment payments.
