Employment Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023

Monday, 11 September 2023

Questions (659)

Paul Murphy

Question:

659. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education in relation to primary and secondary school teachers who are not on fixed term or permanent contracts, if she is aware of the difficulty they face getting paid over the summer break; if she agrees that it is unacceptable that the teachers previously mentioned, who are due back to school next week have still not received their jobseeker’s having applied for on 29 June 2023, in order to ensure that this does not happen next year as her Department knows there will be an influx of paperwork; if her Department respond accordingly and either funnel resources that way or hire more people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38285/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The entitlement to and payment of jobseeker’s benefit to teachers over the school holiday periods is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. As part of the application process for the jobseekers benefit, payroll staff in my Department are asked by teachers to complete an application form on employment information.

New procedures have been implemented by the Payroll Division of my Department which has significantly reduced the time involved in completing the Department of Social Protection jobseeker benefit forms. In the vast majority of cases the forms are turned around within 7 to 10 working days. The forms are returned to the teacher concerned and it is a matter for the teacher to submit those forms to the Department of Social Protection for assessment on entitlement to job-seekers benefit.