Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1061. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment for bank holidays will be extended to causal jobseekers who don’t receive payment from their employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2459/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Jobseekers schemes, consisting of jobseekers Benefit based on a person’s paid social insurance contributions and jobseekers allowance, which is a means tested payment, provide support to individuals who have lost work and are unable to obtain full time employment. The estimated revised expenditure for 2022 for the statutory jobseekers schemes is approximately €2.17 billion.
Where a bank holiday is a day of unemployment, then the person would be entitled to a jobseeker payment in line with the normal rues of the scheme.
However, where a person in part-time employment is due to be paid by their employer for a public holiday, jobseekers would not be payable as it is not considered a day of unemployment. If an employee is not paid by their employer in these circumstances, this is an employments rights matter and should be referred to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
