Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 1 - 20

Jobs Data

Ceisteanna (1)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs lost and gained in County Kildare in each of the past six years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7728/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q4 2015.

Estimates of employment are produced by NUTS 3 Regions. The NUTS 3 Mid-East region includes Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Kildare County estimates from the QNHS.

Table 1a shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Mid-East region in Q4 of each year from 2009 to 2015.

Table 1b shows the annual change in the numbers of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Mid-East region in Q4 of each year from 2010 to 2015.

As Table 1a shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual changes which are calculated using these stock figures depend both on the number of jobs lost and jobs created over the period in question. The QNHS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Table 1a Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by Mid-East region, Q4 2009-Q4 2015 -

'000

	Q4 09	Q4 10	Q4 11	Q4 12	Q4 13	Q4 14	Q4 15
In employment	232.3	226.3	229.9	225.5	225.9	237.9	235.8

Table 1b Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by Mid-East region, Q4 2010-Q4 2015 - Annual change -

'000

	Q4 10	Q4 11	Q4 12	Q4 13	Q4 14	Q4 15
In employment	-6.0	3.6	-4.4	0.4	12.0	-2.1

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Reference period: Q4=Oct-Dec.

Appointments to State Boards Data

Ceisteanna (2)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

2. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or him to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016 broken down by agency and by regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7485/16]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I make appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Statistics Board (NSB). Since the start of 2015 I have made one appointment to the NESC and no appointments to the NSB.

Ms. Patricia King, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, was appointed to the NESC in March 2015. Her appointment was made following nomination by the ICTU in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and S.I. No. 603 of 2010, National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. While the ICTU is a national body, its headquarters is in Dublin.

State Properties Data

Ceisteanna (3)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

3. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by his Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department by square footage, by location and by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7521/16]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department does not own any properties, land or car parks. Properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (4)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

4. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will each provide a list, in tabular form, of the following information in respect of the period 1 January 2016 to date: each statutory instrument signed; each contract entered into by his Department or agency thereof; each tender issued by his Department or agency thereof; each tender awarded by his Department or agency thereof; each State board appointment made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7522/16]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I have made no appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) or the National Statistics Board (NSB) to date in 2016.

The tables detail each Statutory Instrument signed; each Request for Tender issued and each contract entered into by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) from 1 January to 19 April 2016.

Statutory Instruments signed since 1 January 2016

Title of Statutory Instrument	Date signed by Taoiseach
Statistics (Monthly Industrial Inquiry) Order 2016	05/01/2016
Statistics (Monthly Services Inquiry) Order 2016	26/01/2016
Statistics (Business Energy Use Survey) Order 2016	29/02/2016
Statistics (Job Vacancy Survey) Order 2016	29/02/2016
Statistics (Retail Sales Inquiry) Order 2016	29/02/2016
Statistics (National Survey of Transport of Goods by Road) Order 2016	29/03/2016
Statistics (Business Expenditure on Research and Development Survey) Order 2016	08/04/2016

Statutory Instruments signed by the Taoiseach on behalf of the Government since 1 January 2016	Originating Department	Date signed
Maritime Jurisdiction (Straight Baselines) Order 2016	Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	13/01/2016
Planning and Development Act 2000 (Designation of Strategic Development Zone: North Quays, Waterford City) Order 2016	Department of Environment, Community & Local Government	19/01/2016

Contracts entered into since 1 January 2016

Name of Company	Service	Status of Tender
Banqueting Food Systems	Catering for State Reception, Dublin Castle, 27th March 2016 for the Department of the Taoiseach	Tender issued and awarded. Contract entered into and completed
Apex Fire	Fire Extinguishers Maintenance for the Department of the Taoiseach	Tender issued and awarded. Contract entered into.
Cannon Hygiene	Sanitary / Hygiene Service for the Department of the Taoiseach	Tender issued and awarded. Contract entered into.
Ann Brady McQuillans	Provision of Professional Services (Preparation of Audit File 2015) to National Economic and Social Development Office	Office of Government Procurement Framework. Contract entered into and completed

Requests for Tenders issued since 1 January 2016

Service	Tender Status
Provision and Delivery of Stationery Services for the Department of the Taoiseach	Deadline for receipt of Tenders Monday, 25 January 2016. No contract awarded.
Provision of Annual IT Maintenance and Support Services to National Economic and Social Development Office	Deadline for receipt of Tenders Tuesday, 29 March 2016. No contract awarded.

Child Benefit Eligibility

Ceisteanna (5)

Shane Ross

Ceist:

5. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the payment of the children's allowance beyond a child's 18th birthday in circumstances where they are still in full-time second level education; if not, the alternative sources of financial support for such families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7361/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.

Child Benefit is currently paid to around 620,000 families in respect of some 1.19 million children, with an estimated expenditure in the order of over €2 billion in 2016. Child Benefit is an important source of income for all families and in Budget 2016 the Government increased Child Benefit by €5 per month, at a cost of €72 million.

Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the current age limit for Child Benefit.

Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:

- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;

- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;

- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).

These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (6)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

6. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it is expected that the skills available among those persons on the live register can be matched to the skill requirements of the workplace, in respect of both the indigenous and the foreign direct investment sectors, over the course of the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7727/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Pathways to Work 2016-2020 sets out a comprehensive programme aimed at helping jobseekers to return to work. Together with the national and regional Action Plans for Jobs, Enterprise 2015, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, the Further Education and Training Strategy, the National Skills Strategy and the Review of Apprenticeships, it is designed to ensure that Ireland’s workforce is equipped to respond flexibly to the demands of a growing economy and that unemployed jobseekers are positioned and supported to take up employment opportunities in the economy.

In framing and implementing these strategies the Government has consulted widely with stakeholders including employers, trade unions, and representatives of unemployed jobseekers. In addition the State has a number of institutional arrangements in place that operate on an ongoing basis to inform the development and implementation of strategies. In the case of the Pathways to Work strategy this includes the Labour Market Council, an independent group of industry leaders, advocates for unemployed jobseekers, trade unions and labour market experts.

The Department has also established a dedicated Employer Relations Division and Employer Engagement Teams in every Division who encourage, support and incentivise employers to recruit unemployed people on the Live Register. As part of this role they work to match employer job specifications with people on the Live Register. To support this activity a new www.JobsIreland.ie online system will be implemented later this year that will, among other things, enable employers to readily identify candidates who meet their skills requirements and enable the Department’s case officers to further support jobseekers. Data from the new system will provide real-time information on the skills and competencies being sought by employers and on any skills gaps. This will be very useful to the relevant Government Departments and agencies seeking to address such gaps.

In a manner similar to the co-operation between the Department of Social Protection and the Labour Market Council, the planning and provision of education and training programmes by the Department of Education and Skills and its agencies is informed by the work of the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs which produces annual reports projecting the future skills needs of Irish industry.

The Department of Social Protection also works closely with the Department of Education and Skills, SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards to ensure that the strategic reforms underway in the education and training sectors, such as the establishment of Regional Skills Fora, are informed by the skills and competencies profile of unemployed jobseekers.

In this regard training programmes such as MOMENTUM are specifically designed to provide education and training to long term unemployed people to help them gain skills and to access work opportunities in identified growth sectors. It is delivered in partnership with both public and private education and training providers who have developed linkages with employers. Participants receive training in areas with recognised skill shortages where existing vacancies have been identified.

The Department also collaborates with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to co-ordinate efforts to respond to the needs of employers and jobseekers. A Steering Group of senior officials monitors implementation of a “Protocol for Co-operation” between the agencies.

As an example of the kind of close inter-agency partnership taking place to ensure that jobseekers are equipped with the skills necessary to meet industry needs, the Departments of Social Protection, Department of Education and Skills and Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation are co-hosting an event focussed specifically on “Effective Collaboration” to take place on 17 May 2017. The event will be attended by representatives from all relevant agencies who will hear best practice exemplars and discuss ways to improve effectiveness.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Ceisteanna (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

7. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the projected numbers of recipients of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7258/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

8. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the projected numbers of recipients of supplementary welfare allowance over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7259/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

9. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the projected numbers of recipients of illness benefit and disability allowance over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7260/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

10. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the projected numbers of recipients of one-parent family payment over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7261/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

11. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views the projected numbers of recipients of carer's benefit and carer's allowance over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7262/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

12. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the projected numbers of recipients of State pension, contributory and non-contributory, over the next five years and to provide a table including the estimated number of recipients in a given week each year and the percentage change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7263/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive, together.

The following table provides the estimated average weekly numbers of weekly payments underlying allocations in the 2016 REV for each of the schemes covered by the Deputy’s questions.

Scheme	Average number of weekly payments in 2016
Jobseeker’s Allowance	239,260
Jobseekers Benefit	38,300
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic Payments	14,900
One Parent Family Payment	41,390
Disability Allowance	119,270
Illness Benefit	56,550
Carers Allowance	62,860
Carers Benefit	2,300
State Pension (Contributory)	386,800 (Note)
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	95,030

Note: number of recipients on State Pension (Contributory) includes 38,200 due a payment each week but paid once every four weeks.

To qualify for a primary weekly social welfare payment a person must experience a defined contingency, such as unemployment, disability, illness or lone parenthood, and satisfy either a social insurance contribution requirement (for a PRSI based payment) or a means test (for payments funded through general taxation). The incidence of certain contingencies can be difficult to predict and because of this, it is not possible to predict scheme demand over a five year period with accuracy.

For many schemes, it is difficult to project the change in recipients for each year over the next 5 years due to the potential impact of overall economic performance, labour market performance, customer circumstances and demographic changes. Recipient number trends during 2015 and the first half of 2016 will be reviewed over the next few months, with the objective of finalising the forecast of recipient numbers for 2017.

The number of recipients on Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit is dependent upon economic performance, labour force performance, the availability and take-up of in-work supports and transfers to working age employment supports. The 2016 REV Estimates includes a financial provision for jobseekers with an average Live Register of 305,250. The 2016 Expenditure Report published at the time of the 2016 Budget in October 2016, assumed an average Live Register of 289,000 in 2017 and 273,000 in 2018. These Estimates are subject to review and change having regard to the performance of the labour market in the lead up to Budget 2017 later in the year. At this stage, there is no Live Register forecast for the years 2019 to 2021. Having regard to all of these factors, it is not possible to provide the number of weekly payments on Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit for each year over the next five years.

The number of recipients on State Pension (Contributory) is dependent upon life expectancy, the contributions record of recipients and the age at which a state pension becomes payable. Section 7 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act of 2011 provides for increasing the pension age to 67 in 2021. At present, demographic factors are likely to see the number of people qualifying for State Pension (Contributory) increasing in the range 17,000 to 18,000 each year up to 2021.

The number of recipients on State Pension (Non-Contributory) is dependent upon the number of people of pension age not qualifying for State Pension (Contributory), and the means of such people. At present, the numbers accessing this scheme are falling by a few hundred each year.

The number of recipients on Illness Benefit is dependent upon the numbers of people in employment, the increasing age profile of the labour force, the average duration of illness or injury and the continuing impact of previous budget measures. Given the range of potential variables, it is not possible to provide the number of weekly payments on Illness Benefit for each year over the next five years.

To qualify for Disability Allowance, a person must be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment, be aged between 16 and under 66, must satisfy a means test as well as a medical test and be habitually resident in the State. The following table provides the average number of recipients each year on Disability Allowance over the last five years:

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Average Number of Recipients	100,280	101,550	103,100	108,800	115,030	119,270

While numbers on Disability Allowance have risen significantly over the last three years, it is more difficult to quantify the rate of increase for each year over the next five years given the range of variables outlined above affecting the number of recipients.

The numbers of recipients on One Parent Family Payment is dependent upon the number of lone parents where their youngest child is within the qualifying age for One Parent Family Payment satisfying a means test, availability of in-work supports for parents and economic circumstances of recipients, including their participation in the labour force. The number of recipients on Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit is dependent upon the availability of carers to care for people requiring care. All claims are subject to a medical assessment to determine the level of care required, with Carers Allowance being subject to a means test and Carers Benefit being subject to a contribution condition test. Given the range of potential variables, it is not possible to provide the number of weekly payments on these schemes for each year over the next five years.

Finally, the number of recipients claiming the Social Welfare Allowance Basic Payments scheme is mainly influenced by the number of people receiving interim payments while awaiting a decision on their primary scheme (for example, Disability Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance). Given variations in the throughput of new claims arising from various contingencies outlined above across the Department’s range of primary schemes, it is difficult to project trends for each year on this scheme over the next five years.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Ceisteanna (13, 14, 15)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

13. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to provide a table indicating the estimated annual cost of index-linking each of the following payments to inflation over the next five years: jobseeker's benefit; jobseeker's allowance; supplementary welfare allowance; illness benefit; disability allowance; one-parent family payment; carer's benefit; carer's allowance; State pension, contributory; and State pension, non-contributory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7264/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

14. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of index-linking all weekly social protection payments to inflation over the next five years. [7265/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

15. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of index-linking all social protection payments to inflation over the next five years. [7266/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together.

The information that the Deputy has requested is detailed in the table. The costings are based on 2016 recipient numbers, and include the cost of proportionate increases in reduced rates and the qualified adult rates of payment. It should be noted that the costings do not take into account changing trends (increases or decreases) in recipient numbers from 2017 onwards.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices used in the table is sourced from the Department of Finance’s 2016 Budget Day book. This provides forecasts for inflation for the five years 2016 to 2020 inclusive; however, there is no projection available for 2021.

Cost of Social Protection Payment Rate Increases linked to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, 2017 to 2020

Year	2017 – 1.5% €m	2018 – 1.7% €m	2019 – 1.9% €m	2020 – 1.9% €m
Jobseeker’s Benefit	5.7	6.5	7.6	7.8
Jobseeker’s Allowance	39.2	44.5	51.8	52.9
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	2.5	2.9	3.3	3.3
Illness Benefit	8.4	9.6	11.1	11.4
Disability Allowance	18.4	21.0	24.3	24.9
One Parent Family Payment	6.0	6.9	8.0	8.2
Carer’s Benefit	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.5
Carer’s Allowance	8.1	9.2	10.5	10.7
State Pension (Contributory)	73.2	84.1	96.5	98.6
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	16.6	19.1	22.1	22.1
All weekly Social Welfare payments	246.3	281.5	324.3	331.4
All Social Welfare payments	287.4	328.9	378.2	386.2

The cost of increasing all weekly social welfare payments in line with projected inflation includes the qualified child increase, the Living Alone Allowance and the over 80s allowance. It also includes increasing the rates for Community Employment, Tús, Rural Social Scheme, Gateway, JobBridge and Job Initiative but it does not include increasing the top-ups paid on these schemes. Furthermore, it includes increasing the average payment value of the Family Income Supplement in line with projected inflation.

In addition to the weekly social welfare payments, all social welfare payments includes monthly Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Household Benefits scheme payments, and the annual Carer’s Support Grant. Provision is also made for an increase in line with inflation for Fuel Allowance and the Widowed Parent Grant. All of these costings are based on 2016 recipient numbers.

Disability Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (16)

John Brady

Ceist:

16. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application under the disability allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7269/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 26 January 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

Community Services Programme

Ceisteanna (17)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

17. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a community services project for the Cross Roads Community Centre in Cong, County Mayo, was received; when a decision will be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7271/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The community services programme (CSP) provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and co-operatives in communities around the country. Funding of €46m has been provided for the programme in 2016 which will maintain the current level of activity. Given the restrictions on resources, the Department has been unable to make an open call for new proposals to the programme for a number of years.

Service providers must operate community or social enterprises that are able to deliver tangible services and are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of charging fees, sales and/or fundraising. The programme is not intended to represent full funding for any operation. Rather, funding is provided on the basis of a contribution to the cost of full-time staffing positions to support the delivery of the service and can include management and non-management elements.

Cross Roads Community Centre in Cong have submitted a proposal for funding under the programme and the final details of their application were received by the Department on 9 March 2016. The Centre’s expression of interest is currently being appraised by Pobal and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Disability Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (18)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

18. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a decision on their application under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7276/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 15 March 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (19)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

19. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a decision on their application under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7279/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 28 April 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 28 April 2016. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 14 April 2016.

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (20)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

20. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to review and revise the casual dockets signing-on system to cater for those persons whose working week does not align with that of her Department (details supplied). [7298/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

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 2016 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ scheme of €2.8 billion.

It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be fully unemployed for four days in any period of seven consecutive days, so a person working four or more days a week will not qualify for jobseeker’s allowance. However, there is flexibility to look back as well as forward when considering whether a person is unemployed for four days in any period of 7 consecutive days. This can mean that a casual worker may qualify for a jobseeker’s payment subject to the number of days they were unemployed in a previous week.

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. In particular, increasing flexibility in the system could potentially, depending on the behavioural response, increase the number of people claiming a jobseeker’s payment thereby increasing the total cost of the schemes to the Exchequer.