Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
247. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a full-time student (details supplied) is not entitled to any financial assistance when completing their Trinity College access programme. [70850/25]
View answer248. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who was born in Belfast is having issues with their habitual residence condition which has resulted in them being unable to apply for any financial assistance. [70851/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.
The Person Concerned submitted an application for Jobseekers Allowance on the 4th September 2025. Their application was examined to determine if they satisfied the conditions for receipt of Jobseekers Allowance.
To qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance, a person must:
• be over 18 and under 66 years of age
• satisfy a means test
• be habitually resident in Ireland
• be capable of work
• be available for full-time work
• be genuinely seeking work
• be fully or partly unemployed (at least 4 days out of work in every 7)
The Habitually Resident Condition (HRC) consists of two parts. The first requires that a person has an established right of residence in this country. This right of residence must be “unconditional” in the sense that it does not preclude the person from getting social welfare payments.
The second part of HRC requires an assessment of a person’s situation and intentions using the specific factors outlined in the legislation. It should be noted that those factors are not exclusive and other information considered relevant may also be used in arriving at a decision. Unless a person satisfies both parts of the condition they cannot be regarded as habitually resident in this country.
The application was examined in relation to the person's situation and intentions and was disallowed on the grounds of not satisfying this HRC condition.
A disallowance letter issued on the 17/09/2025.
The option to appeal is open to the person concerned and the person has 60 days from the date of decision to submit their appeal.
In connection with the Deputy's enquiry in relation to support for the person concerned while studying Jobseeker’s Allowance is not payable to new applicants who are in full time education as they do not meet the conditions for the scheme. A person must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment to qualify for a jobseeker’s payment.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant is the national awarding authority for further and higher education grants which operates under the authority of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
