asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Mr. Bernard Rabbitt, Irishtown, Mullingar, who joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1922 and who was demobilised in August, 1925, has been refused unemployment benefit at the Labour Exchange, Mullingar, on the grounds that no unemployment benefit becomes payable to ex-Servicemen of the National Army who were demobilised after June 29th, 1924, and, further, if he will state the position of this applicant and others regarding unemployment benefit.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EX-SOLDIERS AND UNEMPLOYED BENEFIT.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
There is no record of any claim to unemployment benefit having been made at the Mullingar Branch Employment Office by Mr. Bernard Rabbitt, of Irishtown, Mullingar, nor can it be found that he attended at that office or made any enquiry in reference to unemployment benefit. There is no record of any contributions under the Unemployment Insurance Acts having been paid at any time in respect of Mr. Rabbitt, and he would not, therefore, be entitled to unemployment benefit. Under the Acts passed by the Oireachtas special contributions were credited only to men discharged from the Army on or before 29th June, 1924, they being regarded as the men specially recruited for an emergency. Ordinarily, service in the Army is not an insurable employment at all.
Will the Minister say if men who were not in insured occupations before joining the Army, and who were demobilised since the 29th June, 1924, will be entitled to unemployment benefit?
If they comply with all the other sections of the Unemployment Acts.
Is the Minister prepared to have this case considered if the applicant proves that he applied to the Labour Exchange?
I have a case put before me by the Deputy, but there is no record of any claim to benefit having been made by this man. There is no record that he attended the office or made any inquiry, and no contributions were paid for him. The man does not exist as far as the Unemployment Insurance Exchanges are concerned, and they cannot consider the case.
I would like the Minister to be quite clear about this. This applicant was not in an insured occupations before joining the Army. He made a claim at Mullingar Labour Exchange and was told by Mr. Murtagh that he is not entitled to any benefit or to draw any money from the Labour Exchange because he was not demobilised before the 29th June, 1924. If that can be proved will the Minister have the case reconsidered?
If these are the facts then he has no right to benefit.