Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has directly challenged Minister Leo Varadkar while on his visit to the constituency on the issue of the rights and entitlements of seasonal and part-time workers.
This follows an earlier commitment obtained by Deputy Gallagher during the Social Welfare Bill that a full review of the terms, conditions and entitlements of seasonal and part-time workers have to access Social Protection payments – when their seasonal work ends.
He says the current situation is farcical with hundreds of seasonal and part-time workers unable to access their Social welfare entitlements once their seasonal work ends, traditionally these workers would be able to access their social protection entitlements as seasonal workers.
And he added that the numerous changes brought in since 2011 have now made it impossible for these workers to access any payment by enlarging once their seasonal work ends.
Pat the Cope added that hundreds of these workers have been working on a seasonal and part-time basis for many years especially in the fish processing sector, Hospitality businesses or other seasonally related employment, some in excess of 20 years or more.
He said “It is further leading to skills shortage as people are no longer willing to go through the hassle of trying to access social welfare once their job ends on a traditional seasonal basis.
“These changes have been causing real hardships in numerous families’ right throughout Donegal as many workers in west and south-west Donegal would traditional augment their farming or fishing income by having a seasonal job at off-peak times. The Minister gave an absolute commitment to the Dáil in December that the review of entitlements would be complete by mid-March or first week of April – but he has failed to meet that commitment.
“I am challenging the Minister to honour that commitment and to be accountable for his assurance to the Dáil – and deliver the report. It is scandalous that the Minister allowed a delay in publishing the report, it is worse that he continues to fail to understand the plight and circumstances of seasonal and part-time workers, many of whom are on low to middle-income jobs and traditionally rely heavily on this additional income from their seasonal employment.
“Minister Varadkar is too much distracted in advancing his own personal career to focus on what is essential and critical to seasonal and part-time workers. I am aware the Minister is to meet the seasonal workers while on his tour of the constituency but let that just not be a listening exercise only by him he needs to be proactive and solve the issue – the Minister has numerous submissions on this matter including a lengthy document from myself showing him the possible solutions to the ongoing problems for seasonal workers.
“It is overdue and imperative that the Minster now solve this issue before he leaves the county – he has had the review carried out, he has received the solutions and has previously met the seasonal workers – all is now required from him is action and a decision. This Government and this Minister in particular go to lengths to prove their rural credentials and try to convince us all of how pro rural life they are – let’s see a tangible demonstration of that and improve the plight and entitlements of the hundreds of seasonal and part-time workers right throughout Donegal,” concluded Pat the Cope.
