Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
690. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to seasonal workers who were not entitled to the Covid-19 payment in view of the fact they had not returned to work in March 2020; if the scheme will be reviewed to take such persons into consideration (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15243/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra728. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding seasonal workers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15075/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra734. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans in respect of supports for seasonal workers who had not returned to work by the deadline in March 2020 and that face little prospect of employment for the remainder of 2020; if she is making provision for implications for 2021 due to the fact these workers are not currently in a position to pay stamps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15187/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra737. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision will be made for those in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit to retain some of their PRSI stamps in view of the fact that their ability to seek work was restrained due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15236/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra739. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures her Department has taken to provide supports to seasonal workers, such as those employed in summer camps, who have lost income due to Covid-19 but are not covered by the pandemic unemployment payment. [15250/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra781. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to or partly reimburse students fully who usually work summer jobs to fund university education but can no longer do so due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15936/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 690, 728, 734, 737, 739 and 781 together.
The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and lost their income from employment. Where a person was due to take up seasonal employment but they were not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People who do not qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment are eligible to apply for a jobseekers payment. Jobseeker's benefit is a weekly payment to people who have lost their employment and who satisfy the scheme's statutory conditions including the requirement to have sufficient social insurance contributions paid. This benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid. Where a person does not re-qualify or has used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
