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Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 1 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 241-260

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (241)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

241. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason jobseekers who take up part-time employment that is under 20 hours over five days a week and not allowed for three days, and who are also within the means test are not able to apply for jobseeker's allowance for the hours not worked, as this could be seen as a disincentive to take up part-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28252/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers' schemes of €3.28 billion. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be fully unemployed for four in any period of seven consecutive days, so a person working any period of time five days a week will not qualify. It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, resulting in an increase in the number of persons employed for less than a full week. This is an important policy issue for the Department but any changes to the current criteria could have significant cost implications for the jobseekers' schemes.

I established the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare in 2011 to harness expert opinion and experience to address a number of specific issues around the interaction of the tax and social protection systems. I have asked the Advisory Group to recommend cost-effective solutions as to how employment incentives can be improved. The Advisory Group is currently undertaking its final module of work on the issue of the interaction of the tax and social welfare systems to determine how the social welfare system can best achieve its goals of supporting persons through periods of involuntary unemployment while incentivising work and disincentivising welfare dependency. The Group will report to me once their examination of the various issues has been completed.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Ceisteanna (242)

John Halligan

Ceist:

242. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will look into the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; the methodology used by her Department in the calculation of notional income in respect of adult dependant applications for old age pensions; if she will acknowledge that the method of calculation currently used is flawed and generally does not represent a true reflection of an applicant's notional income for the purposes of assessment; if she will commit to having the shortfalls in the methodology assessed to ascertain if there would be a better process that could be followed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28274/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The assessment for increase for qualified adult in the State pension (contributory) of the person concerned has been reviewed, and I am satisfied that the correct procedure has been applied. A claimant's entitlement to personal weekly rate of State pension (contributory) is not means tested. It is based on a person's social insurance record and they must satisfy certain eligibility conditions. An increase in the weekly rate of State pension (contributory) payable in respect of a qualified adult (IQA) may be claimed in respect of a dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the main recipient. This increase is a means tested payment and account is taken of the income and assets of the person in respect of whom an increase is being claimed (allowing for a 50% apportionment of jointly held assets, where applicable). IQA is payable at the maximum weekly rate where the qualified adult’s means, as assessed in accordance with social welfare legislation, are €100 a week or less. Reduced rates of IQA are payable where the qualified adult's means are between €100 and €310 a week. There is no entitlement to an increase where assessed means are in excess of €310 a week. No account is taken of the income or assets of the primary recipient for the purposes of determining whether an increase for qualified adult is payable or not.

For the purposes of determining the means of a dependent spouse/civil-partner/cohabitant, account is taken of their income from employment, self-employment, rental income and occupational or personal pensions, etc. Where the qualified adult is the owner of property (including savings and investments, but not including property which is rented), social welfare legislation provides that the value of such property is assessed on a notional basis. Such property includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares, as well as houses and premises (excluding the family home) owned by the qualified adult which are not put to commercial use. The current assessment method, involving a disregard of an initial amount of capital and an increasing notional weekly value for amounts in excess of the disregarded amount, is longstanding. The assessment formula is not designed to mirror potential interest or annuity rates available to investors or depositors and no account is taken of any such income in the overall means assessment.

The current assessment provisions date from 2005 when the initial amount disregarded increased from €12,697 to €20,000, thereby continuing and enhancing the policy of ensuring that those with property and capital of modest amounts receive the greater share of available support, while those with larger amounts of capital are in a position to avail of it to contribute, at least partially, towards meeting their needs.

The current capital assessment formula for IQA purposes is as follows:

AMOUNT OF CAPITAL

WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED

Up to €20,000

Nil

€20,000 - €30,000

€1 per each €1,000

€30,000 - €40,000

€2 per each €1,000

Over €40,000

€4 per each €1,000

Any changes to the current assessment arrangements would have to be considered in a Budgetary context.

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (243)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

243. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will receive a decision on their jobseeker's allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28301/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (244)

Simon Harris

Ceist:

244. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) may expect a decision on their carer's allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28313/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 17 July 2014. The person concerned will shortly be notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Questions Nos. 245 and 246 answered with Question No. 219.

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (247)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

247. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has had any discussions with the Department for Finance regarding extending the home renovation tax incentive to the private rented sector for landlords who commit to accepting rent supplement tenants for a period, the tax incentive being only available if tenants are retained for a specific period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28370/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government has provided over €344 million for the rent supplement scheme in 2014, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. Any extension of the home renovation incentive (HRI) scheme would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and would have to be considered within a budgetary context. Discussions have not been held on this matter between the Department and the Department of Finance.

Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals

Ceisteanna (248)

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

248. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when a determination for jobseeker's benefit will be made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28373/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 April 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 25 April 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Pensions Legislation

Ceisteanna (249)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

249. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if to comply with its statutory obligation under the Pensions Act to ensure trustees of schemes falling within its remit comply with the duties imposed on them by all law, including the Pensions Act, the Pensions Board must be qualified to determine whether Acts of the Oireachtas impose duties in law on scheme trustees and have the authority to ensure they fulfil those duties (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28377/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I refer to my response to you on 18 June on this matter and reaffirm that the remit of the Pensions Authority is determined only by the provisions in the Pensions Act. Section 10 of the Pensions Act sets out the functions of the Pensions Authority. Its core function is to monitor and supervise the operation of the Pensions Act. Its remit is determined by the provisions of the Pensions Act and in this regard it is only qualified to determine matters which fall within that remit. In this context, the Pensions Authority has the power to conduct an investigation of the state and conduct of a pension scheme where there are strong indications of a breach of the specific provisions of the Pensions Act.

Any breach of the rules of a scheme whether it is a statutory or a non-statutory scheme can be referred to the Pension Ombudsman, where it is alleged that a scheme member has sustained financial loss occasioned by an act of mal-administration done by or on behalf of a person responsible for the management of a scheme or, where there is a dispute of fact or law done by or on behalf of a persons responsible for the management of the scheme. Pension schemes are required to establish internal procedures for the resolution of disputes. These procedures must be exhausted before a complaint can be referred to the Pensions Ombudsman for investigation. As you may be aware, pension schemes in Ireland are generally established under trust and as such the trustees of a pension scheme are required, under trust law, to act in the best interest of all scheme members and beneficiaries who have recourse under trust law determine any alleged breaches of the trust.

Community Employment Schemes Data

Ceisteanna (250)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

250. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment schemes supervisors and assistant supervisors here; if their salary is paid in full by the State; who their official employer is; the current arrangements that are in place or payment of pensions to such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28388/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

At the end of May 2014, there were 1,379 persons employed as Community Employment (CE) Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors equating to 1,349 full-time equivalent positions (some are part-time/job-sharing). Of the 1,379 total, 1,166 are Supervisors and 213 are Assistant Supervisors. The salaries of CE Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors are paid by their local CE Sponsoring organisations, who are their legal employers. Every four weeks during the CE project annual contract, the CE Sponsors can claim for the costs of supervision from the Department of Social Protection at the approved rates. The Department provides a grant to cover the cost of employing Supervisors for a full-time 39-hour week, exclusive of lunch breaks. This grant can only be used to fund supervisor wage costs for the 39-hour contractual week. Any additional scheme work outside of the 39 hours contractual period will not be funded by the Department.

With regards to pension arrangements for CE supervisors, the Labour Court recommended in July 2008 (LCR19293) that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS, the Agency responsible for CE at that time. Notwithstanding the position of this Department (which now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that liability for these costs be met from public funds, this matter has been the subject of discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the unions representing CE supervisors. Given the level of funding that would be required from this Department, the implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and on-going fiscal environment and the requirement to contain and reduce public expenditure. The costs of the introduction of any scheme are likely to be of the order of €3m per annum, with retrospective costs of the order of at least €30 million. It should also be noted that this Department is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations and the individuals concerned must also be recognised when considering pension provision arrangements.

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

Ceisteanna (251)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the one-parent family payment who will lose their entitlement on 1 July 2014 following changes introduced in the budget for 2012; the arrangements that will be in place to assist such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28389/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The number of OFP recipients stood at 77,209 in May, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is due to be spent on the scheme in 2014. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, contains provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient's payment ceases to seven years from 2014 for new entrants and from 2015 for existing recipients. The next phase of the OFP scheme reform process will commence on 3 July 2014, when approximately 5,140 customers will see their entitlement to the OFP payment cease. All affected customers have been invited by the Department to attend information sessions where they have been briefed on the broad range of Departmental supports that are available to them once they exit the OFP scheme.

Special arrangements have been introduced to ease affected lone parents make their transition to another of the Department’s income support payments. These arrangements include the following;

- Affected OFP customers, who are also in receipt of the family income supplement (FIS), will have their FIS payment automatically adjusted to compensate for 60% of the loss of their OFP payment;

- Affected OFP customers, who are also in receipt of the half-rate carer’s allowance, will have their carer’s allowance claim re-rated to a full-rate carer’s allowance upon their loss of OFP;

- Applications from affected OFP customers for other social welfare payments including jobseeker’s allowance (JA) are being expedited; and

- The introduction of the JA transitional arrangement, which exempts former OFP recipients who have a youngest child aged under 14 years from having to satisfy the JA scheme conditions of being available for, and genuine seeking, full-time work. This arrangement allows previous OFP recipients with young children to balance their caring responsibilities and significantly reduces their requirement for childcare.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (252)

Noel Coonan

Ceist:

252. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a domiciliary care allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28407/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 19 June 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer's decision when the appeal has been determined. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (253)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to persons who have special dietary requirements after the suspension of the diet supplement payment for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28417/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition.

Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. The average costs of the diets supplemented under the scheme can be met from within one third of the current rate of personal social welfare payments. Payment of the supplement will continue to be made to the existing recipients for as long as they continue to be entitled to the payment.

Staff who administer the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme have statutory powers to award a payment or supplement in cases of exceptional need. Customers experiencing financial hardship should contact the local officer administering the SWA scheme who may be able to offer assistance.

Post Office Network

Ceisteanna (254)

Jim Daly

Ceist:

254. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a post office in west Cork has been closed to the public for the past three months; that social welfare customers are not able to collect payments without travelling 10 km to another post office; if she will seek a commitment from An Post that services will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28418/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An Post advised the department that the Post Office in question was temporarily closing with immediate effect on 26 February 2014 and that social welfare customers were being transferred to Skibbereen Post Office. The reasons for the closure and any potential reopening are internal matters for An Post. The current contract for cash payment services between my department and An Post requires that An Post will provide services within 15 km for 95% of the department's customers in a rural area who receive their social welfare payments at An Post. There are two Post Offices closer than Skibbereen to the Post Office in question, these are Union Hall PO 3.75 miles (6 km) and Roscarberry PO 5 miles (8 km). Customers who wish to receive their social welfare payments in these Post Offices should contact the department to request same.

Social Welfare Schemes

Ceisteanna (255)

Arthur Spring

Ceist:

255. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form a list of all social welfare payments; if the payment can be reviewed; and how often reviews can be carried out for each relevant payment. [28423/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services and serves a wide and diverse group of customers including families, people in employment, unemployed people, people with disabilities, carers, and older people. The Department will spend over €20 billion in social welfare payments this year and will provide support to some 1.4 million people every week. In order to achieve its objective of targeting scarce resources at those who most need them, the Department undertakes a wide range of risk-targeted review projects annually. Scheme review policies vary from scheme to scheme, and are dependent on the nature of the contingency the scheme fulfils. Social Welfare legislation obliges every claimant or beneficiary to notify the Department of any change in circumstances which may affect their entitlement to that benefit/assistance. The Department informs claimants of this requirement when a payment is awarded.

A list of the Department's main schemes, by target customer group, is provided below. More detailed information on qualifying conditions and provisions for review for all schemes is available on the Departments website www.welfare.ie.

Pensions

State pension (non-contributory)

State pension (transition/contributory)

Widow(er)s' / surviving civil partners' contributory pension

Widow(er)s' / surviving civil partners pension (non-contributory)

Widow(er)s' /surviving civil partners' pension (death benefit)

Working Age Income Supports

Jobseeker's allowance

One parent family payment

Deserted wives' allowance

Basic supplementary welfare allowance payment

Farm assist

Pre-Retirement allowance

Exceptional and urgent needs Payment

Jobseeker's benefit

Deserted wives' benefit

Maternity benefit

Adoptive benefit

Health and safety benefit

Redundancy and insolvency payment

Treatment benefit

Working age – employment supports

Community employment programme

Rural social scheme

Tús - community work placement

Job initiative

Community services programme

Back to work allowance

National internship scheme - JobBridge

Back to education allowance

Other Employment supports, including:

- Gateway;

- JobsPlus;

- Local employment services, including Job Clubs;

- Wage subsidy scheme;

- EmployAbility service.

Partial capacity benefit

Illness, Disability and Carers

Disability allowance

Blind pension

Carer's allowance

Domiciliary care allowance

Respite care grant

Illness benefit

Injury benefit

Invalidity pension

Disablement benefit

Carers’ benefit

Children

Child benefit

Family income supplement

Back to school clothing and footwear allowance

School meals

Guardian's payment (non-contributory)

Widowed parent / surviving civil partner grant (non-contributory)

Guardian's payment (contributory)

Widowed parent / surviving civil partner grant (contributory)

Supplementary Payments

Rent supplement

Household benefits package

Electricity allowance

Gas allowance

Free television licence

Free travel

Fuel allowance

Rent allowance (de-control of rents legislation)

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Ceisteanna (256)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

256. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the assessment of means in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be reviewed. [28455/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 May 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 23 June 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments

Ceisteanna (257)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is now on full payment of domiciliary care allowance; if arrears have been paid. [28466/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned was notified on 29 April 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1 November 2013. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, issued to the person concerned on 20 May 2014.

Departmental Budgets

Ceisteanna (258)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

258. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the partial year and the full year monetary effect of her Department's budget 2014 reductions to expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28481/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The estimated savings in 2014 and in a full year of the measures for the Department of Social Protection contained in the Expenditure Report 2014 are outlined in the table below.

Measure

2014 Savings

(€ million)

Full year

(€ million)

Recovery of social welfare payments – Recover the value of certain social welfare payments from compensation awards made to persons in relation to loss of earnings. To be introduced in 2014.

21

22

Illness Benefit - Increase the number of waiting days for entitlement to Illness Benefit from 3 days to 6 days, from January 2014.

22

22

Invalidity Pension - In line with the abolition of the State Pension Transition from January 2014, discontinue the weekly rate of €230.30 for Invalidity Pension at age 65 and align with the weekly rate of €193.50 currently payable to Invalidity Pension recipients aged under 65. Analogous adjustments will also take place in the Invalidity Pension Qualified Adult weekly rate of payment. These measures will apply to Invalidity Pensioners reaching their 65th birthday and to qualified adults reaching their 66th birthday, both with effect from January 2014.

5

10

Jobseeker’s Allowance – Extend the application of the €100 rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA to persons without children who reach the age of 22, 23 and 24 and extend the application of the €144 rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA to persons without children who reach the age of 25, from January 2014. (The Back to Education maximum rate for 25 year olds will be reduced to €160 per week for relevant new entrants).

32

72

Maternity and Adoptive Benefit - Standardise the minimum and maximum weekly rates (currently €217.80 and €262 respectively) of Maternity & Adoptive Benefit at €230 per week. Applies to new claimants only from January 2014.

30

36

Mortgage Interest Supplement - Discontinue the scheme for new applicants and allow a winding down of the current MIS recipient base over a four year period, from January 2014.

12

30

Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement - Increase the minimum contribution for couples by €5 per week, from €35 to €40, thereby further aligning Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement contributions with the Local Authority rents structure, for new and existing recipients, from January 2014.

6

7.1

Household Benefits Package - Reduce the annual payment to RTÉ for the Free TV Licence by €5 million from €59.17 million to €54.17 million.

5

5

Household Benefits Package - Discontinue the Telephone Allowance for all recipients, from January 2014.

44

47.1

Bereavement Grant - Discontinue payment of the €850 grant in respect of deaths on or after 1 January 2014.

17

22

Supplementary Payments - Reductions in expenditure on certain supplementary welfare payments

5

7.8

Savings from increased Employment support efficiencies

12

12

Savings from increased labour market activation

10

10

Fraud and Control Measures – additional fraud and control initiatives.

30

30

Administrative Savings

5

5

Expenditure reductions arising from lower than anticipated estimate of expenditure for 2014.

34

34

Total

290

372

Question No. 259 withdrawn.

National Internship Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (260)

Pat Breen

Ceist:

260. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make changes to the eligibility criteria for interns participation on the JobBridge scheme to facilitate persons who are on a qualifying payment such as jobseeker's allowance, and who do not have a 78-day qualifying period in the three months previous, in view of the fact that they may be working part-time at weekends and only signing on for four days and who are very anxious to participate on the scheme in order that they can improve their employment prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28556/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for JobBridge. Those working part-time or casually and who are in receipt of an eligible payment or signing for credits are eligible to participate in JobBridge. Under the current arrangements, a person may meet the requirement of being in receipt of a qualifying payment (or signing for credits) for 78 days over a six-month period, not a three-month period as the Deputy states. This six-month period was set in order to facilitate those who work casually or part-time. I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in the Department will be more than happy to assist the Deputy if he has a specific case in hand.

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