asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the reasons why Mr. Daniel Carroll, of the Railyard, Castlecomer, a blacksmith, working at the Castlecomer Collieries, Ltd., has not been paid unemployment benefit though he made his claim in due time to the Castlecomer branch of the Labour Exchange.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COLLIERY WORKERS' UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT CLAIMS.
Daniel Carroll, of Railyard, Castlecomer, claimed unemployment benefit on the 21st April, 1927. He failed, however, to furnish evidence of unemployment in respect of the two following days, and, consequently, the claim became ineffective in that he was not continuously unemployed within the meaning of Section 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. He renewed his claim on the 25th April and furnished evidence of continuous unemployment (within the meaning of Section 7 of the Act) for 14 days up to the 24th May, 1927. His claim was allowed for full benefit, and payment was made on the 8th July in respect of all the continuous unemployment proved, less the first week, known as the "waiting week," for which benefit is not payable in any case.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that an application was received at the Castlecomer Labour Exchange for unemployment benefit from Mr. Patrick Dowling, Ardra, Castlecomer, on 8th November, 1926, and that though the applicant was signing for 22 weeks, the claim was disallowed on the grounds that he "was not unable to obtain suitable employment"; whether he is aware that Dowling supplied a certificate from the Manager of the Castlecomer Collieries, Ltd., showing that the colliery had not any suitable employment for him, he having, for 40 years, worked underground as a miner, and was now unable to continue work underground; further, that Mr. Dowling made a new claim after the discontinuance of over-land work on the 9th May last, and has not yet received any benefit, and whether the Department, having regard to the new facts, will reopen the two claims with a view to having Dowling granted the benefits for which he was stamping cards ever since the Unemployment Insurance Act first came into force.
Patrick Dowling of Ardra, Castlecomer, who had been employed as a miner for a number of years at the Castlecomer Collieries, claimed unemployment benefit on the 8th November, 1926. In connection with that claim, the colliery company informed the Department that work in his usual occupation was available for the claimant. The claimant produced a medical certificate stating that he had been suffering from lumbago but was then fit to resume work. In these circumstances, his claim for benefit was disallowed under Section 7 (1) (iii) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, on the ground that he was not unable to obtain suitable employment. He appealed against this decision to the Court of Referees, which, after considering the case, recommended that the claim be disallowed. The Insurance Officer agreed with the recommendation of the court, and the claim accordingly was disallowed. No fresh facts have come to light which would warrant a revision of that decision. Mr. Dowling subsequently entered the employment of the colliery company, where he was engaged on overground work. On ceasing to be employed, he again claimed benefit on the 9th May last. On that occasion also, the colliery company informed the Department that employment in the workmen's usual occupation, that is, as coal hewer, was available for him but that he declined to take up the work. The manager of the colliery did state that Dowling had applied for surface work, but that that class of work was not available for him at the time. The Insurance Officer disallowed this claim also on the ground that the claimant was not unable to obtain suitable employment. He has appealed against that decision to the Court of Referees and the appeal will be heard on the 27th instant.