Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

42 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his proposals regarding part-time workers in the tourism industry who are laid off but may still be called into work and therefore cannot fulfil the stringent conditions for unemployment assistance. [31605/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The unemployment benefit and assistance schemes are designed to provide income support for people who have lost employment and who are unable to find alternative employment. The conditions for receipt of unemployment payments require, inter alia, that a person must be available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. There is an onus on each person to demonstrate, on an ongoing basis, that these conditions are met by showing that he or she is making reasonable efforts to secure suitable full-time employment or self-employment This does not preclude a person from accepting part-time work in the absence of suitable full-time employment provided the person demonstrates that he or she continues to be available for work in respect of any days of unemployment.

A person who has been laid off is entitled to an unemployment payment provided that he or she is fully unemployed for at least three days in any period of six consecutive days. Therefore, a person who takes up part-time work for three days or less per week may qualify for an unemployment payment in respect of the remaining days of the week provided he or she continues to be available for full-time employment.

In this context, a person who declares that he or she is available to work for a specific employer only, may be deemed to be placing an unreasonable restriction on his or her availability for work, particularly in a situation where there are other employment opportunities available.

There has been no change in policy in relation to the entitlement of unemployed persons, including those employed on a part-time basis, to an unemployment payment. All claims for unemployment benefit and assistance, including claims in respect of part-time workers, are subject to periodic review to determine if they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions for payment. Guidelines on the application of the conditions are made available to deciding officers and are designed to ensure that the conditions for receipt of unemployment payments are applied in a uniform and consistent manner.

Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision to refuse him or her an unemployment payment, he or she may appeal the decision to the social welfare appeals office.

Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to individual claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.