asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state why unemployment benefit is not being paid to D. Doherty, c/o Mrs. Rowe, 32 Cross Lane, New Ross.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.
On a claim made on the 7th January, 1925, Daniel Doherty received unemployment benefit for 60 days in respect of 60 contributions to his credit in the Unemployment Fund. This payment exhausted all his contributions, and he will not be entitled to any further benefit until further contributions have been paid for him.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state the reason for the refusal to pay unemployment benefit to Patrick Cribbon, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, book No. 1721, Kildare Office; whether he is aware that Mr. Cribbon's father died about a month ago without making a will; that it is alleged that benefit was refused on the assumption that Mr. Cribbon is now the owner of his father's holding; that his title to possession may not be proved for the next six months, and whether, as this man, having been employed for the last two years, and having his card fully stamped, is now unemployed and without means, he will have further enquiries made with a view to payment of benefit.
One of the statutory conditions for the receipt of benefit is that the claimant proves that he is unemployed and unable to obtain suitable employment. The claim made by Patrick Cribbon, of Rathangan, on the 6th instant was disallowed because he failed to fulfil this statutory condition. The claimant was notified of the disallowance of his claim and of his right of appeal to the Court of Referees, but up to the present no appeal has been received from him. The circumstance of his father's death not being relevant was not known or taken into account in connection with his claim to benefit. I would suggest that if Mr. Cribbon feels aggrieved by the decision of the Insurance Officer he should appeal to the Court of Referees against that decision.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Mr. T. O'Reilly, Aughowle, Ashford, Co. Wicklow (Wicklow Office, Serial No. 475), has been employed in an insurable occupation for the past three years, and if so, if he will state why his claim for unemployment benefit has been rejected.
One of the statutory conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit is that the claimant must prove that he is unemployed and unable to obtain suitable employment. When Terence O'Reilly claimed unemployment benefit on the 25th of March last it was known that he had been an insured contributor for some years, but it was known also that he was not unemployed or unable to obtain suitable employment, and his claim was therefore disallowed. He appealed from this decision to the Court of Referees, which recommended that the claim could not be allowed. The Insurance Officer accepted this recommendation and the claim accordingly remains disallowed.
Is the President aware that the appeal was decided in the absence of the claimant, as he was unable to travel to Dublin for the hearing, having no money; that the man has been in an insurable occupation for a number of years, and will he state why he has been disqualified apart from the reasons stated now? I would also like to know if he is to continue in insurable occupation and stamping his card, seeing that while he was idle he was refused unemployment benefit.
There is no information on the file, so far as I can see, which indicates that he was absent when his claim was under consideration, but I accept the Deputy's statement. The information on the file discloses the fact that he is the owner of ten acres of land, and that the valuation, which is £7, goes to show that this land must be of good quality. I am not in a position to express any opinion on that, but those are facts as contained in the file. If the Deputy wishes, I will bring to the attention of the Minister the fact that the claimant was not present when the decision was taken.
I wish some of the representatives of the Court of Appeal had knowledge of this land, and they would see whether a man could get a living out of seven acres of it.