The recently unemployed are afraid to take on short-term work contracts because waiting lists for social welfare are so long, according to a high-profile TD.

In some cases, workers who have recently lost their jobs are being forced to wait up to four months to have their applications dealt with, figures released to the Sunday Tribune show.

Labour TD Michael D Higgins said he had encountered a number of people who had turned down work because they feared having to rejoin the queue for benefits.

He said: "In some of the cases that I have dealt with, particularly where those people had been self-employed, they are in a position where they cannot take on a short-term employment offers.

"In these instances, there was a hugely long delay in getting clearance certificates from the Revenue Commissioners before they could even begin to start dealing with social welfare. If they were to take advantage of short-term employment offers, they would be putting themselves at the back of the queue again and it simply was not affordable.

"We are going to have 45,000 graduates coming on stream over the next few weeks and what we need now – more than ever – is a flexible system, which allows people to take advantage of short-term contracts or back-to-education options."

The Department of Social and Family Affairs said it had done its best to reduce waiting times after a year in which the numbers signing on almost doubled.

According to department figures, the number of people in receipt of social welfare assistance climbed from 195,600 last year to 384,400 at the latest counts.

Local welfare offices have been inundated and waiting lists have climbed as high as 16.2 weeks at the branch office in Tuam, Co Galway.

Waiting times of 10 weeks for jobseeker's allowance have also been reported in more than 20 other centres around Ireland, with the suburbs around Dublin amongst the worst hit.

The queue for jobseeker's benefit – which is based on previous employment contributions and is not means-assessed – is generally shorter but can be well over two months in some areas.

In the busy local office in Cork for instance, applicants have been waiting an average of 9.5 weeks for their claim to be dealt with.

Right across Co Cork there has been a massive problem with receiving jobseeker's benefit, with waiting lists of between six and eight weeks recorded across the board.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs said the average waiting time for jobseeker's benefit across Ireland was 3.5 weeks while the average wait for jobseeker's allowance was six weeks.

It said there were other factors apart from short-staffing, which was leading to lengthy delays.

A statement said: "The length of time it takes to process claims varies depending on the complexity of the claim, the availability of the necessary documentation from the applicant or his/her employer and the need to carry out additional enquiries.

"Furthermore, processing times can vary from office to office for a number of reasons including the extent of the increased number of claims, the number of staff vacancies, the duration of such vacancies and the turnover of staff in the office."

The department said 246 extra posts had been allocated over recent months with 190 staff assigned to local offices and 16 new inspectors employed around the country.

Social affairs minister Mary Hanafin is currently seeking another 300 staff to be recruited from across the civil service to deal with the "increasing live register".

The department added: "Processing times in some areas are still too long.

"However, the necessary steps are being taken to reduce them.

"Anyone who is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on their claim for a jobseekers payment can apply for supplementary welfare allowance."

10 Worse Places To Lose Your Job Jobseeker's Allowance

1. Tuam, Co Galway 16 weeks
2. Edenderry, Co Offaly 15 weeks
3. Rathdowney, Co Laois 14½ weeks
4. Castlepollard, Co Westmeath 14½ weeks
5. Ballinrobe, Co Mayo 14½ weeks
6. Loughrea, Co Galway 14 weeks
7. Boyle, Co Roscommon 14 weeks
8. Navan, Co Meath 12½ weeks
9. Kells, Co Meath 12½ weeks
10. Mullingar, Co Westmeath 12½ weeks

10 Worst Places To Lose Your Job Jobseeker's Benefit

1. Cork Local Office 9½ weeks
2. Newmarket, Co Cork 9 weeks
3. Kinsale, Co Cork 8 weeks
4. Bandon, Co Cork 8 weeks
5. Clonakilty, Co Cork 7½ weeks
6. Mallow, Co Cork 6½ weeks
7. Midleton, Co Cork 6½ weeks
8. Galway Local Office 6½ weeks
9. Fermoy, Co Cork 6 weeks
10. Longford, Co Longford 6 weeks