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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

235 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the special circumstances of actors are taken into account when they apply for unemployment assistance; and if they are regarded as not genuinely being available for and seeking work if they do not look for a job outside the theatre, radio, television or film sectors. [10171/00]

Social welfare legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance. In applying the legislation, deciding officers do not treat actors any differently from any other unemployment benefit or assistance claimant.

Where a person is seeking work in his or her usual employment and there is a reasonable prospect of securing work of that nature, he or she would normally satisfy the conditions for receipt of payment. However, if there is no employment available within a specialised field within a reasonable period of time, the unemployed person would be expected to broaden his or her search so as to include other types of employment.

After a period of unemployment, a person would be expected to accept any employment for which he or she is qualified.

Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision made by a deciding officer he or she may appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

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