Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2010
487 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will produce an information leaflet on the options available to unemployed persons in relation to temporary, casual, project-based short-term work, and nixer-type work and the consequences in terms of tax and their jobseeker payment as there is a lack of information and clarity which is encouraging black-market activity, social welfare fraud, and welfare dependency. [4813/10]
View answerThe primary objective of the Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. The Department operates a network of some 130 local and branch offices throughout the country. Each Local Office has officers who are dedicated to providing information and are available to explain supports and services to people.
This locally based service is supported by a central Information Unit which operates a LoCall information line (1890 66 22 44) which customers may call for information and guidance on their entitlements. The Department produces a comprehensive range of information leaflets and booklets and these are available in a wide range of outlets, including Social Welfare Offices, Citizens Information Centres and Post Offices. Booklets are also available from the LoCall Leaflet Request Line 1890 20 23 25.
Funding is also provided annually to the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) to produce their booklet "Working for Work", which contains full information on Jobseekers payments and the training and development options available to Jobseekers as well as advice on job searching, tax and other social services provided by other Departments and agencies. INOU provide free copies of the "Working for Work" booklet to people in receipt of social welfare payments. The Department's website, www.welfare.ie , contains full information on its range of schemes and services, including Jobseekers supports, and has a Frequently Asked Questions section dedicated to Jobseekers.
The Citizens Information Board, which comes under the aegis of the Department, is the national information agency with responsibility for supporting the provision of independent information and advice on the broad range of social services including social welfare services. Information is provided through Citizen Information Centres and other offices throughout the country, through the Citizens Information Phone Service (1890 777 121) which operates from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and on their website at www.citizensinformation.ie . The Citizens Information Board recently launched a new website dedicated to people recently made unemployed, called www.losingyourjob.ie . This site provides a single point of information for anyone looking for assistance with unemployment or reduced hours.
One of the conditions for receipt of Jobseekers payments is that the customer be unemployed for at least three days out of six per week. Jobseekers must declare any days worked to their local office when "signing-on". Welfare fraud is theft and, while the level of fraud on most schemes is very low, the Department is doing everything that it can to crack down on people who abuse the system. In drafting the recent Budget, the Government was conscious of the need to avoid disincentives for people to move from welfare to work as these could lead to long-term dependency on welfare. The changes recently made in welfare rates address some of these disincentives. Information regarding these changes is available on the Department's website, www.welfare.ie.
I am satisfied that the Department is taking all necessary steps to ensure that unemployed people are made aware of their entitlements, options and obligations.
