asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what is the reason for withholding payment of unemployment benefit, due to Patrick Flanagan, of Waterstown, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, Card No. 2945, who has been signing up in the Labour Exchange, Droichead Nua, since the middle of February last; further, in view of the fact that this man is destitute, whether enquiries will be made with a view to expediting payment.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.—A KILDARE CLAIM.
Patrick Flanagan claimed benefit at Droichead Nua Branch Employment Office on the 14th February, 1923. In consequence of the distance he resided from the local office he was not required to attend daily to prove unemployment. He was, however, required to give proof of unemployment in the other form prescribed for applicants who live at a distance— i.e., he was asked to produce each week a certificate signed by himself and two householders to the effect that he was unemployed and unable to obtain suitable employment. He failed, however, to produce satisfactory proof of unemployment and consequently payment could not be made on his claim. I should add that he had received a considerable amount of benefit on a previous claim on certificates which, on investigation, it was found had not been signed by the persons whose signatures they purported to bear. He made a further claim in July last, which he also failed to substantiate.