asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has received representations from the Labour Party and Trade Union Congress on the question of establishing a supplementary unemployment benefit fund to relieve distress among persons who have exhausted their claims to benefit under the existing Unemployment Insurance Acts or who are excluded from the scope of the Acts; whether he has considered the representations, and, if so, whether he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to provide for the establishment of such a fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - A Supplementary Unemployment Benefit Fund.
Representations on the subject mentioned in the question have been received and the matter is at present under consideration by me with a view to the introduction of proposals for legislation.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when the legislation is likely to be introduced?
No.
Can the Minister say if this is to make arrangements for the allocation of the £450,000 referred to by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement with the intention of relieving local authorities?
Yes. The intention is to implement in legislation the provision of £450,000 for unemployment relief.
Can the Minister say if the legislation is likely to be in operation before the coming winter?
I cannot say at the moment.