Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
596. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she and her officials will address an anomaly with Turas Nua, whereby those that work in unconventional structures, for example arts professionals, are unable to select their type of freelance seasonal employment on their applications (details supplied). [32208/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuras Nua is contracted by my Department to provide support and assistance to jobseekers seeking full time employment. This support is delivered through one to one intensive engagement with a case worker who will assist the jobseeker to identify and overcome barriers to employment. There is no barrier placed by Turas Nua or any other activation service of my Department on what employment a jobseeker may wish to pursue.
For the Deputy's information, the jobseeker's allowance for self employed professional artists was introduced to assist self-employed artists who are temporarily in need of additional income support but wish to continue as a professional artist. Any customers engaged with JobPath and who subsequently meet the criteria as a self-employed professional artist can be cancelled from the JobPath programme.
If the customer contacts their local Intreo Centre they will assess their circumstances to determine if they satisfy the criteria and if so, they can be withdrawn from the JobPath service.
