Vol. 509 No. 6
476 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the guidelines, if any, issued by his Department to enable assessments to be made regarding the qualification criteria for unemployment benefit that a claimant must be genuinely looking for work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21761/99]
To be entitled to an unemployment payment a person must satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. These requirements are set out in Statutory Instrument 137 of 1998. To be regarded as genuinely seeking work a person must show that he or she has taken reasonable steps to obtain employment, including applying for and seeking information on jobs, and availing of suitable training opportunities.
In order to ensure that there is consistent and uniform application of these provisions detailed guidelines were issued to deciding officers. The guidelines provide more specific clarification on the application of the requirements. I am arranging for a copy of the regulations and guidelines to be forwarded to the Deputy.
