Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
647. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have qualified for the new pay related benefit since it was introduced, by county; the average payment rate under the scheme to date; the cost of the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51718/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit (JPRB) is a payment you can get if you become fully unemployed and who have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. You cannot work and get Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit at the same time.
The amount of JPRB you get is directly linked to your earnings from work before you became unemployed. To the end of August 2025, a total of 46,466 claims were registered, with 34,646 claims awarded. At the end of August, there were 20,153 recipients in payment, with a breakdown by county provided in Table 1 below.
The average weekly entitlement value for those with 260+ PRSI contributions is approximately €373, and the average weekly entitlement value for those with 104-259 PRSI contributions is approximately €253. The cost of the scheme to the end of August was €111.4 million.
Table 1: Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit recipients at the end of August 2025, by county
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
223 |
|
Cavan |
232 |
|
Clare |
439 |
|
Cork |
1,951 |
|
Donegal |
352 |
|
Dublin |
7,100 |
|
Galway |
980 |
|
Kerry |
428 |
|
Kildare |
1,125 |
|
Kilkenny |
340 |
|
Laois |
331 |
|
Leitrim |
104 |
|
Limerick |
765 |
|
Longford |
171 |
|
Louth |
623 |
|
Mayo |
380 |
|
Meath |
956 |
|
Monaghan |
198 |
|
Offaly |
302 |
|
Roscommon |
191 |
|
Sligo |
245 |
|
Tipperary |
493 |
|
Waterford |
491 |
|
Westmeath |
377 |
|
Wexford |
580 |
|
Wicklow |
664 |
|
Unknown |
112 |
|
Total |
20,153 |
