Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Nov 1924

Vol. 9 No. 14

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLAIM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that Patrick Gough, Gibson Street, Wexford, has been informed by the officials at the Wexford Labour Exchange that he is only entitled to nine days' unemployment benefit, although he claims to have eighty-seven stamps to his credit since July, 1920, and if he will have enquiries made into the matter.

I find that the total number of contributions paid for Mr. Patrick Gough, of Gibson Street, Wexford, from the time the first Unemployment Insurance Act came into force, is 67. On a claim lodged on the 7th July last he was paid 58 days' benefit, thus exhausting 58 of his contributions. On a further claim made on the 30th October last he has been paid 9 days' benefit in respect of the remaining 9 contributions. As he has no further contributions to his credit, he cannot obtain any further Unemployment Benefit under existing legislation, but he is entitled to some Dependents' Benefit, the payment of which has been delayed because of the fact that his application was incomplete in the first instance. This is being paid to-day. I should like to inform the Deputy that although only 67 contributions altogether have been paid for Patrick Gough, he has already received benefit in the different benefit periods since 1921 to the extent of 452 days.

Might I ask does the Minister consider that the Act he is at present administering is sufficient to deal with the unemployment problem, or is the Government considering any new Bill?

In so far as Patrick Gough is concerned — that was the question I was asked originally — the fact that he got 452 days' benefit for 67 contributions shows, at any rate, that he was sufficiently well treated.

Top
Share