Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
359. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason retained fire fighters are not allowed to claim jobseeker's benefit; her plans to change the criteria of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22778/13]
View answerRetained fire-fighters are entitled to a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days that they are engaged in fire-fighting or training. They are, however, required to satisfy the statutory conditions for the receipt of a jobseeker’s payment of being available for and genuinely seeking work.
Taking account of the unusual circumstances of retained fire personnel, a departmental group was established to examine the position of these workers vis-à-vis jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance. I would hope to be able to advance proposals to address the issues arising shortly.
