378. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter relating to social welfare payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54363/26]

My Department provides a number of in-work income supports for people on low-incomes or who are engaged in part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal work.

Jobseeker’s Benefit is a social insurance-based income support available to people who are working on a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal basis, including those whose employment is based around the academic year.

If the person does not meet the PRSI contribution requirements for Jobseeker’s Benefit, they may be entitled to the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme.  Under the Jobseeker's Allowance means test, the first €20 of earnings per day is disregarded up to a maximum of €60 for three days worked.

Remaining earnings are assessed at 60% so that a person should always see an increase in their overall income when they take up work.

People in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment are required to be available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work.  There is a statutory requirement to engage with the Department’s Intreo Employment Services in order to retain the payment.

The Working Family Payment is a tax-free payment available to people in employment who have children.  To qualify for Working Family Payment, the average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold and the applicant must also be working, as an employee, for at least 38 hours per fortnight.  There is no maximum limit to the number of hours or days a person can work under the Working Family Payment.

More broadly, it is acknowledged that there are limitations to the existing Jobseeker’s Allowance and Working Family Payment schemes, and the Government is progressing work on a proposed Working Age Payment as part of a wider programme of social welfare reform.  One of the key objectives of this work is to remove the barriers that might prevent people from taking on additional work, include moving away from the current 4-in-7 rule that requires 3 days of unemployment to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance.

A public consultation on the proposed Working Age Payment and Targeted Child Payment was undertaken by my Department and closed on 12 June.  Submissions were received from a wide range of stakeholders including representative bodies, advocacy organisations, service providers and the public.  Analysis of these submissions is ongoing and will be used to inform more detailed scheme design.