Seán Canney, Independent TD, has received complaints that school bus drivers and other educational sector workers have not been paid their entitlements for the Easter holidays due to a backlog within the Department of Social Protection with the processing of such claims.
He told the Advertiser that educational sector workers do not get paid during the school holiday period and have to claim Jobseeker’s Benefit for these periods.
“I have been informed by the Department that due to a backlog in the processing of claims, many of these workers have not received their due entitlement for the Easter period.
“This is putting severe financial pressure on these workers and their families at a time when the cost of living is increasing and many have loan commitments and mortgages to pay.
“The Minister for Social Protection needs to step in and ensure that sufficient resources are in place to deal with these payments in a timely fashion as has happened previously.
“It is not fair on these workers and their families who have to experience delays of many weeks in receiving their entitlements,” he said.
