Vol. 475 No. 8
219 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the situation of persons on career breaks being refused unemployment benefit or supplementary welfare allowance on the grounds that their contracts of employment have not been terminated in view of the fact that the terms of their career breaks have expired and to date they have not been re-employed, despite requests to return. [6266/97]
Persons on career breaks are not regarded as unemployed within the meaning of the social welfare legislation in that their unemployment is not involuntary and their contracts of employment have not been terminated.
It is a normal rule of career breaks that recommencement of employment at the end of the specified period is conditional on the existence of a fillable vacancy. Where no such vacancy exists there may be a delay in resumption. Such waiting periods are seen as part of the career break. Where persons on career breaks find themselves in financial difficulty they may apply for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The allowance is subject to a means test. Each case is dealt with on an individual basis, taking into account all the relevant circumstances.
