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Social Welfare Code Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013

Thursday, 28 March 2013

Questions (143)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

143. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision by the Athlone social welfare office not to pay social entitlements to retained fire fighters in Athlone, although they are actively seeking employment, is in contravention of the Minister of State’s statement on the matter recently. [15940/13]

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Written answers

Part-time fire fighters may be awarded a jobseeker’s payment provided that they satisfy the conditions - as set out in social welfare legislation - of being available for and genuinely seeking work. Any person, including individuals who are part-time fire fighters, who fails to satisfy these conditions, on an on-going basis, is not entitled to such payment. In this respect, Deciding Officers do not treat part-time fire fighters differently to any other jobseeker. In applying the legislation, Deciding Officers have regard to the availability of job vacancies in the locality, the age and educational qualifications, together with the family circumstances of the particular claimant. A Deciding Officer will make a decision based on the individual circumstances of each case.

Issues relating to the eligibility of fire fighters for jobseeker’s payments have been raised with my Department on numerous occasions over the years. Taking account of the unusual circumstances of these workers and general efforts to develop and standardise the jobseeker schemes, a group was established in the Department to examine their position. Issues in relation to fire fighters remain under consideration in the Department and key to these considerations will be recognition of the very valuable service which this group of workers provide to their local communities. I will be in touch with Deputies in the coming weeks to advise them of the outcome of the Department’s deliberations in this matter.

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