asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of persons in Saorstát Eireann from whom applications for qualification certificates under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, were received prior to the 4th June and the number to whom such certificates were issued; (b) the number of such applications received previous to the 31st March in reference to which a decision had not been reached before the 4th June and the cause of the delay in arriving at a decision; (c) the number of persons who have lodged appeals involving a consideration of their means determination and the number of such appeals now determined; (d) the number of persons from whom applications for unemployment assistance were received and the number of such persons to whom payments covering a period of not less than one week were made; (e) the number of claims to unemployment assistance current in each week subsequent to the 18th April.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Certificates.
(a) the number of applications for qualification certificates received at the local offices of the Department up to and including June 2nd, 1934, the latest date for which figures are available, was 196,409. Of these, 70,563 had been disposed of up to the same date, certificates having been granted in 61,687 and refused in 8,876 cases; (b) this part of the question would involve protracted enquiry and cost which the result would not justify; any attempt to obtain material for a reply would necessarily cause delay which would adversely affect the interests of the applicants concerned and of other applicants. There has been no avoidable delay in any case. It will be appreciated that the investigations which are necessary in order to comply with statutory requirements must take a considerable time, having regard to the large numbers of applications received, but the work is proceeding with the utmost possible speed; (c) the number of persons from whom appeals involving consideration of their means have been referred to the Appeals Committee is 1,469 and of 679 cases of all kinds which have been determined by the Appeals Committee, 157 related to the assessment of the means of the appellant; (d) the number of applications for unemployment assistance current on June 4th was 24,864, and payments were made to 14,088 applicants on May 31st. Information as to the numbers of those applicants who received payments for a period of not less than one week not readily available; (e) the number of claims current each week since April 23rd were: April 23rd, 7,480; April 30th, 10,664; May 7th, 13,521; May 14th, 16,147; May 22nd, 18,856; May 28, 21,557; June 4th, 24,864.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is the Minister now prepared to state that this terrible Act was introduced at the instigation of the Labour Party?