Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
443. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection with regards to the obstacles that are being put in the way of the mobility labour, that its persons are very unwilling to hire labour for a short period of time, her plans to deal with these difficulties [5523/13]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has many supports in place to encourage the mobility of jobseekers back into the workforce. The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJI) is intended as a stepping stone into full-time work. It allows long-term unemployed people to take up part-time work and get a special weekly allowance instead of their jobseeker’s payment. The Department also operates a fast-tracking system for people who sign off a jobseeker's payment to take up work for short periods. This ensures that the jobseeker’s payment is re-instated without delay.
In addition, the Family Income Supplement (FIS) payment is designed to provide income for employees with families who are on low earnings. The payment preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he/she was unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments. To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with - or is in a family which is supported by - him/her.
