FMD Unemployed must be guaranteed dole

19 Mar 2001

EMBARGO 00.01am 20/3/01

"Workers temporarily laid off because of the Foot and Mouth Disease crisis, must be guaranteed that they will receive a dole payment with no undue delay", said Tony Monks, General Secretary of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed. " We are calling on Dermot Ahern, Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs to make a statement in the Dáil that all those temporarily laid off will not be forced to meet the 'genuinely seeking work' criteria at their local exchange before receiving a dole payment.'

In order to be eligible for an unemployment payment, claimants must prove that they meet the Department's 'Genuinely Seeking Work' criteria. This includes registering with FÁS, and providing copies of job applications.

A circular was issued by the Department to local exchanges on the 12th March noting the particular circumstances of these workers, however the INOU say this circular does not go far enough.

" Local social welfare exchanges have discretion over whether or not to enforce the Genuinely Seeking Work criteria. The INOU carried out a spot check of 14 local social welfare offices throughout the country. Only half of the offices said that a worker who has just been temporarily laid off because of FMD does not have to prove that they are genuinely seeking work in order to get their first dole payment. Two offices said that these workers would need proof of applying for advertised work, for which they were qualified before getting a payment. The remainder said that each case would be assessed on its own merits."

"Hopefully some workers may be lucky enough to get alternative employment, however this may not be good news for an employer hoping to re-open their business as soon as the restrictions currently in place are lifted."

The INOU also drew attention to the level of payment someone recently laid off can expect to receive. Tony Monks said "A single person, who has just lost their job due to FMD, will only receive an Unemployment Benefit (UB) payment of £38.75 for the first week they are out of work. A married person with two children will receive £75.45. Workers who do not have enough PRSI stamps for a UB payment could be waiting two weeks or more to have a means assessment for Unemployment Assistance. A person in this situation can go to their Community Welfare Officer for financial assistance while waiting for their claim to be processed. However the level of payment is at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officer."
" Workers temporarily laid off due to FMD, will suffer immediate and stark financial loss, the least the Government can do is guarantee that they will receive their pittance of a dole payment in a speedy fashion."

The INOU has also called on the Minister to publish figures from local offices, which record the numbers of those made redundant due to FMD. Tony Monks said " There has been very little focus on the workers who are suddenly out of a job. The local exchanges have been advised to keep a record of those laid off due to FMD, and this should be made publicly available so that the cost to workers can also be assessed."

ENDS

For further information contact:
Tony Monks, General Secretary
087 249 6066 / 01 856 0088
Noeleen Hartigan, Press Officer
087 616 7689 / 01 856 0088