Vol. 516 No. 6
343 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if mothers of young children seeking and available for part-time employment, as opposed to full-time employment, are excluded from unemployment assistance; and the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [9119/00]
The conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance require, inter alia, that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking work. In order to satisfy these conditions a person must demonstrate that he or she is making reasonable efforts to secure suitable, full-time employment or self-employment.
Guidelines are issued to all deciding officers in order to ensure a consistent and uniform application of the rules governing the deciding of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance claims. A person who fails to satisfy the deciding officer that he or she is available for and genuinely seeking suitable, full-time employment is not entitled to an unemployment payment. The rules governing entitlement to unemployment payments are under review but there are no plans to alter this fundamental condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance.
Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision made by a deciding officer he or she may appeal the decision to the independent social welfare appeals office.
344 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a back to work allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [9171/00]
To qualify for the back to work allowance a person must be 12 months on the live register, aged 23 years or older and be in receipt of, or have an underlying entitlement to, unemployment assistance of at least £40 per week, if single, or £62 per week, if married.
