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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Oct 1924

Vol. 9 No. 2

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KILDARE MAN'S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that James Corcoran, of Moorfield Road, Droichead Nua, Co. Kildare, has received the sum of £1 13s. 4d. unemployment benefit, and that further payment has been stopped although he has over eighty stamps for the years 1921 and 1922, and thirteen stamps for 1924 to his credit; further, whether he will have inquiries made with a view to immediate payment in this case, as the man and his family are destitute; and whether steps will be taken to prevent delay in the payment of such cases in future.

I find that James Corcoran, of Moorfield Road, Droichead Nua, made a claim to unemployment benefit on the 30th August, and was paid unemployment benefit thereon to the amount of £1 13s. 4d. up to the 19th September, when further payment had to be suspended in the following circumstances:—

James Corcoran, of Moorfield Road, was one of two men of the same name employed by the Kildare County Council. On the termination of the employment of these men each was given the unemployment book of the other. The interchange of books was noticed when the second man of the name claimed benefit. Some time was necessarily occupied in correspondence with the last employers in order to determine the number of contributions payable for each workman during the period of employment with the County Council, and to adjust the accounts accordingly. The matter having been satisfactorily settled, the papers were sent to the Branch Manager, Droichead Nua, on the 21st instant, with instructions to pay each of the workmen concerned all benefit due to him.

Is the Minister aware that a great number of the unemployed in the Newbridge branch area have been robbed of their money by local officials? It shows very bad administration on the part of the Minister's Department. I think that there should be some strict supervision of that particular office, and not be keeping men waiting for two or three months, and at the end of that time telling them that there is nothing due to them—the officials have got the lot.

I hope that the Deputy's comments on the administration of my Department are as exaggerated as the term "robbery" would seem to imply to his criticism of the other people.

The Minister is not perhaps aware that he has Inspectors down there for about two months inquiring into the bad administration of that particular branch.

I think the fact that Inspectors were down shows that the administration has been looked into.

Locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen.

In this connection would the Minister undertake to ask the Department to speed up the consideration of claims? There are complaints all over the country that the claims are being kept back in Dublin.

I can ask the Department, but, when I say that, I am not going to be taken as admitting that there has been any defects in the Department. I will certainly see if any complaints have been received and whether the complaints are justified.

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