asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas Hednen, Skeagh, Mearescourt, Mullingar, although unemployed from August 3rd to October 4th, 1922, and having 32 stamps on his card for the year in question, did not receive any unemployment benefit from the Labour Exchange; whether, owing to the state of the finances of the Westmeath County Council, and being a road worker, Hednen was unemployed for the above period; further, whether he will consider the question of exempting such workers from paying unemployment insurance when, being unemployed through no fault of their own, they are not entitled to unemployment benefit.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - CLAIM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.
It is assumed that the question relates to Mr. Thomas Heduvan, the facts of whose case are as follows: The applicant claimed benefit on 10th August, 1922, having then 39 contributions to his credit. But the applicant had already received 48 days' benefit, which exhausted these contributions. He consequently had no further right to covenanted benefit, and his claim was treated as a claim for uncovenanted benefit and disallowed because he was unable to satisfy the essential condition that his normal occupation must be an insurable one. It appeared that it was only at intervals that he obtained employment in the insurable occupation of road worker, and that this consequently could not be regarded as his normal occupation. The applicant did not attend the Exchange after 30th August, 1922, and the Ministry has no record of unemployment after that date.
In the light of these facts it will be seen that the suggestion that Mr. Heduvan could not get benefit though he had contributions to his credit has no foundation. Mr. Heduvan received all the benefit to which his contributions entitled him, and it was only in respect of uncovenanted benefit that he failed to establish a claim. In these circumstances the last part of the question does not arise.
Does that answer apply to all road workers who are unemployed?
Obviously not; because he was only part time or occasionally employed as a road worker.
Does it apply to such men as those who would be working a fortnight each month, and who may at the same time have twenty stamps upon their card?
That question will have to be put down separately.