Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2013
144. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason casual workers who work a fourth day in the week lose entitlement; her views on whether this represents a disincentive to work; the steps she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17904/13]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for these schemes that a person must be available for full-time work.
A person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance where they are fully unemployed for at least 4 days in any period of 7 consecutive days.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, with a consequent increase in the number of casual workers. In acknowledgement of this trend, the Department has commenced work on the consideration of the future structure of the jobseeker schemes. In this regard the Department’s work is being informed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education report, A Review of the Status of Casual Workers in Ireland. This report recommended increasing the flexibility of the existing jobseeker schemes by moving from the current days based system to a system of entitlement based on hours.
However, increasing flexibility in the system could potentially, depending on the behavioural response, increase the number of people claiming a jobseeker’s payment thereby increasing the total cost of the schemes to the Exchequer.
Other issues which are under active consideration are, aligning the jobseeker’s week to the calendar week and compensating for the loss of employment only or stated availability, whichever is the lesser.
This work is complex and is taking place in the context of other social welfare reforms including the recognition of Sunday working for jobseekers, the current economic situation, and the considerable administrative change that implementation of reform to the jobseeker’s schemes will require.
