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Departmental Reviews

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Ceisteanna (587, 588)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

587. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of entitlements for seasonal and part-time workers (details supplied); the proposals from the review which she is considering in the context of the 2019 budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17958/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

588. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the review conducted by her Department of the rights and entitlements of seasonal and part-time workers committed to on 24 November 2016 will be provided. [17959/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together.

My Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the jobseeker’s allowance and the jobseekers benefit schemes. Both schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s schemes of €2.17 billion.

An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having a subsidiary employment. My Department has completed a report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part time workers which I am examining.

On 7th December 2017, I published the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 The Bill delivers on the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to tackle the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 15th February 2018 and Committee Stage is scheduled for 17th May next.

This very important piece of legislation will improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours in all sectors of employment.

My Department is currently collating data on jobseekers benefit recipients in subsidiary employment. We will have 12 months of data gathered by May 2018 at which point I will be in a better position to make an informed decision on this issue.

I intend to submit the report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part time workers to the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The report will be published subsequently and will be made available to all members.

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