Vol. 525 No. 4
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will instruct his Department to review the apparent targeting of part-time workers of long standing in disallowing their unemployment benefit especially in certain professions and geographical areas. [24991/00]
33 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the increase in the number of applicants to the live register who are being refused access on the basis that they are not genuinely seeking work; his further views on whether this criterion is being applied evenly here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/00]
I propose to take Questions No. 7 and 33 together.
To be entitled to an unemployment payment a person must satisfy the statutory conditions of being capable of, available for and genuinely seeking but unable to obtain suitable full-time work. Thus, to be regarded as genuinely seeking work a person must show that he or she is taking reasonable steps to obtain suitable full-time work, including applying for and seeking information on jobs and availing of suitable training opportunities. Part-time and casual workers must be available for and genuinely seeking work for the periods when they are not employed. To qualify for a payment, part-time workers who work two or three days a week must make efforts to find work for the other days of the week or find full-time work elsewhere.
These requirements are set out in regulations. To ensure that these regulations are applied consistently and uniformly detailed guidelines have been issued to the statutorily appointed deciding officers who decide unemployment claims and appropriate training has been provided. In the current economic climate there are many employment opportunities available, both full-time and part-time and many employers state that they are finding it difficult to fill vacancies in that context. Deciding officers are placing greater emphasis on reviewing and testing individuals' efforts to obtain full-time employment.
As the numbers of those on the live register continue to fall, all persons in receipt of unemployment payments are having their claims reviewed on a more regular, systematic basis with a view to helping them make the transition from welfare to work. The employment action plan, which is a joint initiative between FÁS and my Department, offers support and guidance to help people find suitable work through the development of an action plan and the provision of appropriate training. My Department is also taking a more holistic approach for unemployed persons by identifying the availability of assistance from other agencies and opportunities for employment and training.
There is no policy to select any particular profession or geographical area for more rigorous examination. Each case is decided in accordance with the regulations, having regard to what is reasonable in that particular case. If a deciding officer decides that a person does not fulfil the conditions, the claim is formally disallowed. Anybody who is not satisfied with a deciding officer's decision may appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office.
I am satisfied that the statutory conditions for receipt of unemployment payments are being applied in a fair and reasonable fashion having regard to the conditions which exist in the labour market.
Does the Minister not agree that his performance in this area has been one of his most short-sighted and mean-spirited? I understand the Minister has targeted groups of workers such as lollipop ladies. Traditionally, during the school holidays—
The Deputy should confine himself to questions.
Why did the Minister target very vulnerable workers such as lollipop ladies who might have part-time duties and crassly cut off their entitlement to unemployment benefit, which they traditionally received during holiday periods? The Minister definitely targeted certain geographical areas. I understand that in areas such as Kerry, which have strong tourism industries and, traditionally, are home to many part-time workers – very often these are women – who could draw unemployment benefit when the tourist season was over, the Minister targeted those workers in a most mean-spirited way.
I accuse the Deputy of misleading the House. He knows full well that the Minister has no hand, act or part in the decisions made by deciding officers. I ask him to correct the record in that regard. I have no hand, act or part in the decisions made by the social welfare appeals office. I ask the Deputy not to mislead the House. I accuse him of trying to mislead and hoodwink the public because the Minister has no role in terms of telling a deciding officer or an appeals officer to give Joe or Gemma Bloggs his or her social welfare entitlements. The Minister has no role in targeting any geographic or professional area.
I ask the Deputy to correct the record because he knows that the Minister has no role in this matter. It is incorrect to state that my Department is targeting particular professions. The numbers on the live register are down to an all-time low—
The Minister's supplementary reply has exceeded one minute.
—thanks to the good economic policies of the Government. I accept there are people who up to now had not been examined. However, there are jobs available for everybody and it is wrong that people should be claiming the dole when there are plenty of employment opportunities on offer.
I will not withdraw my remarks. The Minister's job is to make policy.
Deputy Broughan is hoodwinking the people.
The Minister's job is to make policy.
The Deputy is hoodwinking the people and he knows it.
Order, please.
I challenge the Deputy to provide proof to support his accusations. He will not be able to do so.
The Deputy and the Minister should resume their seats.
I ask the Deputy to correct the record because examination of the legislation bluntly shows that the Minister is not entitled and has no power to direct deciding officers or appeals officers to make decisions, one way or the other, and the Deputy is aware of that. If he has proof that I intervened in cases and influenced a deciding officer's decision, one way or another, I challenge him to produce it. He will not be able to do so.
We are discussing the social insurance system. The workers to whom I refer paid their stamps and they had entitlements which they have enjoyed for many years.
The Deputy is changing the subject.
Either the Minister or the Tánaiste, or both, introduced—
Members will leave me with no option but to suspend Question Time if disorder continues.
Does the Minister accept that there are some groups who have been affected in the manner described by Deputy Broughan, who referred to school wardens? What is the position vis-à-vis actors and those employed in professions where work is often seasonal? I am aware of a number of cases where people believe they are being penalised and proper account is not taken of the seasonal or intermittent nature of their work. Does the Minister believe that new directions need to be issued in respect of how these people's cases are handled?
There are real difficulties in this area and there have been instances where people were treated unjustly. Does the Minister believe that a change of policy is necessary to deal with the difficulties that have arisen in a number of key areas.
I thank the Deputy for her very reasonable question. Many of the groups to which she referred and more have contacted me. I was contacted some time ago by members of the teaching profession to highlight the fact that many part-time teachers are laid off in June and do not return to work until September.
I cannot change the rules that have applied to unemployment benefit and assistance for many years. People should be available for work. There was a time when there were no jobs available during the summer months or periods in which people were not required in their professions. That is no longer the case.
I am answerable not only to this House, but to the Comptroller and Auditor General for the spending of taxpayer's money. There was full consultation in this House on the guidelines laid down which were commenced by my predecessor. There was also a full discussion at the social affairs committee on availability for work and whether someone is genuinely seeking work. It is not as if anyone was hoodwinked. Circumstances have changed and deciding officers have acted accordingly. There are jobs available and employers are crying out for people to fill them. Surely it is not unreasonable to expect that people should work when jobs are available, rather than claim off the State. For too long politicians have been accused of turning a blind eye.
The Minister is trying to justify himself.
No.
