Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
498. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if renewal and first-time applications for jobseeker’s benefit by members of the retained fire services are being processed as normal given the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. [34842/23]
View answerApplications for Jobseeker's Benefit from retained fire-fighters are being processed as normal. Retained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed may make a claim for a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days that they are engaged in fire-fighting or training, subject to the normal jobseeker's qualifying conditions in relation to social insurance contributions or means. They are also required to satisfy the statutory conditions for the receipt of a jobseeker’s payment of being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work.
A person is not entitled to receive a Jobseeker's Benefit payment for any day where their employment has been lost due to a trade dispute. In respect of any other days, for example, days where a fire-fighter was not rostered for strike action, the fire fighter will have to clarify the basis on which they consider themselves unemployed and what employment they have lost. A decision will then be made on the jobseeker's claim in the normal manner.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
