Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
465. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of unemployment assistance on a short or long-term basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59539/22]
View answerJobseeker’s Allowance, formerly known as Unemployment Assistance, is a means-tested income support for people who are unemployed. In the week ending 20 November, 2022, there were 114,650 Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients. Of these, 41.5 per cent (47,539) are long-term unemployed (one year or more), while 58.5 percent (67,111) are considered short-term recipients. It should be noted that people who are casually employed (or part-time unemployed) are defined as short-term recipients of the scheme.
Looking at jobseeker recipients more widely, as of 20 November 2022, 34.2 percent of those on the Live Register (which includes Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit and Credits) are considered long term claimants.
It should be noted that, unlike in previous years, Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients includes people who arrived under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive from Ukraine. This income support is provided in the first instance, until the most appropriate income support for the individual is determined.
It is welcome that, as reported in the Q3, 2022 Labour Force Survey published by the CSO last week, the Long-Term Unemployment Rate is 1.1%, which is below the pre-pandemic Q3 2019 level of 1.4%.
