Jobseeker's Benefit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Questions (211)

Robert Troy

Question:

211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 10 February 2015, if she will investigate the situation whereby school secretaries have to sign-on every time they take holidays and are not paid for the first days of their claim; and if a more user-friendly, efficient service will be put in place whereby persons can sign on once a year at the start of the school term if they have a letter from their school. [8155/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not in receipt of holiday pay and satisfies the conditions of the scheme. School secretaries who are employed on a temporary basis and who have already been in contact with the Department are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This facilitates an efficient service to these customers. However, it is important to note that they are still required to sign on for each period of unemployment.

Initially when a person makes an application for jobseeker’s benefit, three waiting days apply and payment is from the fourth day of the claim where there is no accrued holiday entitlement. If a person makes a repeat claim for jobseeker’s benefit with 26 weeks of their previous claim, the repeat claim links to the earlier claim and no waiting days apply.

Question No. 212 withdrawn.