asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the applications of several hundred able-bodied unemployed persons in Limerick City for qualification certificates under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, lodged about two months ago have not yet been dealt with; and if he will take steps to have all such applications speedily dealt with and payment of the benefit expedited, in view of the fact that the money available for the relief of destitution by the Limerick County Borough Board of Health is now exhausted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance in Limerick.
A total of 6,323 applications for qualification certificates were made at the Employment Exchange, Limerick, between the 1st March, 1934 —the first date on which persons were in a position to make application for qualification certificates—and the 19th May, 1934, the latest date for which statistics are at present available. Of the total number of applications made, 4,631 showed that the applicants possessed some means within the meaning of Section 13 of the Act, and investigation and calculation of the value of such means is required in each case.
The determination of the question whether or not applicants for qualification certificates fulfil the statutory conditions for the receipt of such certificates necessitates a full examination of all the relevant circumstances of the applicants, and in the cases of applicants who possess means within the meaning of Section 13 of the Act the investigation and determination of the yearly value of such means take considerable time.
Of the applications made by persons resident in the County Borough of Limerick, a total of 1,736 have been decided, qualification certificates being issued in 1,489 cases and refused in 247 cases.
There has been no avoidable delay in dealing with applications, and every effort is being made to dispose of them as rapidly as possible.
The Unemployment Assistance Act has not repealed those enactments under which relief by way of home assistance is provided, nor does it affect the discretion and responsibility conferred on local authorities by those enactments.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, would the Minister not admit that the local authorities in Limerick have a fair case? It would obviously be only fair to restore to them the proportion of the rate which they have contributed in respect of the Unemployment Assistance Act, and which they will not receive because of the late application of that Act. They budgeted from the 1st April only, and the difference should be recouped to them if unemployed persons will not get that assistance made retrospective.
If the local authorities in Limerick had taken the elementary precaution of addressing inquiries to my Department concerning the manner and time when the Unemployment Assistance Act would be brought into operation they would have received information to enable them to produce proper estimates.
Does not the Minister admit that the point made by Deputy Keyes is further strengthened by the withholding of £148,000 from this scheme which the Minister for Finance told the local authorities would have been put into operation last week?
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he can state in respect of the employment exchanges at Limerick, Kilmallock and Newcastle West (a) the number of persons who have applied under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, for qualification certificates; (b) the number of such persons to whom qualification certificates were issued prior to the 21st May; (c) the number of persons who before the 1st May made application for unemployment assistance and (d) the number of such applicants to whom payment has been made.
(a) The number of persons who had applied for qualification certificates up to and including the 21st May, 1934, at the Employment Exchange, Limerick, was 6,323; at Kilmallock, 1,748; and at Newcastle West, 3,288.
(b) The number of persons to whom qualification certificates were issued up to and including the 21st May, 1934, at the Employment Exchange, Limerick, was 2,105; at Kilmallock, 209; and at Newcastle West, 166.
(c) On the 1st May, 1934, there were 928 applications for unemployment assistance current at the Employment Exchange, Limerick; 79 at Kilmallock, and none at all at Newcastle West.
(d) Payment of unemployment assistance was made to 733 applicants at Limerick on 17th May, 1934, and 62 at Kilmallock. Payment was made at Newcastle West on the 17th May, 1934, to nine applicants who made application subsequent to 1st May, 1934.