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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Summer jobseeker payment gaps

Summary

Rose Conway-Walsh described a seasonal worker in Mayo left without income each summer while waiting for jobseeker payments. The Social Protection Minister said Cabinet had approved pay-related jobseeker’s payment and she would address the summer issue in her later contribution.

I am glad the Minister for Social Protection is beside the Taoiseach. She might be able to answer this question. She recently announced changes to jobseeker-related benefits. I was contacted by a woman from County Mayo who has worked 30 hours a week cleaning a school for eight years. Every summer, she is forced to sign on. She told me she dreads the summer, every year is a struggle and she sometimes waits all summer for the payments to be sorted. Something has to be done for the many people like her who, through no fault of their own, will be left without pay during the summer.

I ask the Minister how the changes to the jobseeker's pay-related benefit affect the many workers like her, and in her situation?

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Heather Humphreys Minister for Social Protection Fine Gael

I am glad to announce I have approval from Cabinet for the pay-related jobseeker's payment. I think that is a step in the right direction. It is to protect people so they will not have a cliff edge drop in their income if they are unfortunate enough to lose their job. I will start to bring that legislation through the Dáil this evening. I take the Deputy's point about the particular people who are laid off during the summer months and will outline those issues when I address the Dáil later.

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It is really important as there is a lot of anxiety around that.

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