asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that there is a general feeling of dissatisfaction regarding the manner in which the means of persons making application for unemployment assistance are determined in the first instance; whether he will state the nature of the instructions issued to the officers responsible for these determinations; if applicants will be informed that they are entitled to appeal against such determinations and if the necessary forms for the purpose of lodging an appeal will be issued at the time the determination is communicated to such applicants as it is determined are entitled to receive less than the maximum amount of unemployment assistance, and whether he is in a position to say what steps are taken to make available to the Appeals Board all the relevant information essential to an equitable determination of the appeal by them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Means Test Under Unemployment Assistance Act.
I am not aware that there is general dissatisfaction with the manner in which the means of persons applying for qualification certificates are determined.
Applications for qualification certificates and unemployment assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Act are determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Statutory Orders made thereunder. Each application for a qualification certificate is received and considered by an unemployment assistance officer appointed under the Act and every question arising thereon is determined by him in accordance with the Act and the Statutory Orders made thereunder. The applicant is duly notified of the decision and every facility is afforded to him of exercising his statutory right of appeal to the Unemployment Appeals Committee constituted under the Act. The decision of the Unemployment Appeals Committee is duly notified to the applicant. Each application for unemployment assistance is received and considered by an unemployment assistance officer appointed under the Act and every question arising there on, including the question whether the statutory conditions have been or continue to be complied with, and the question whether the applicant is or is not disqualified for receiving unemployment assistance, is determined by him in accordance with the Act and the Statutory Orders made thereunder. The applicant is duly notified of the decision and every facility for exercising his statutory right of appeal to the Court of Referees is afforded to him. The applicant is given the opportunity of attending before the Court of Referees at the hearing of his case. Having considered the appeal the Court of Referees make a recommendation to the unemployment assistance officer who, if he agrees with it, accepts the recommendation. If he disagrees with it, he reports the case to the umpire for final decision. Printed leaflets, explanatory of the Act, are provided for distribution to applicants at every local office of the Department and these leaflets contain information regarding the right of appeal. Local officers advise applicants as to their right of appeal.
The Unemployment Assistance (References and Reports to the Unemployment Appeals Committee Regulations) Order, 1934, prescribes the manner of appealing and the reference of appeals to the Unemployment Appeals Committee. The Unemployment Assistance (References and Reports to Courts of Referees Regulations) Order, 1934, prescribes the manner of reference to the Court of Referees and the Unemployment Assistance (Umpire Regulations) Order, 1934, prescribes the manner of reference to the umpire. The procedure for determining applications is similar to the procedure followed under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in the determination of claims to unemployment benefit.
All relevant documents and information available are presented to the Unemployment Appeals Committee or to the umpire and if further information is required by them it is obtained, so far as possible, and submitted to them. Decisions by the umpire and the Unemployment Appeals Committee are final and conclusive and they establish a code of case law which must be followed in the determination of similar cases.
Would the Minister say how the means of a person who applies for this assistance are calculated?
Perhaps the Deputy would put down another question.
That is only evading the question. I have been informed that in calculating the means of an unemployed person 2/6 per week is taken into consideration for every head of cattle he has; £1 a year for a goat, £4 or £5 a year if he has an acre of land, and so much if he has turkeys. I want to know definitely from the Minister if that rumour is correct.
If he had any fat cattle what would happen?
Might I ask the Minister if he is aware that representations have been made to his Department from all parts of the country pointing out the unsatisfactory method of dealing with the means test? Will he make representations to the officials in charge with a view to having this whole matter reconsidered, so as to give some consolation or satisfaction to those for whom the Act was introduced?
I am not aware that representations have been made from all parts of the country on this matter. Representations which have been received are receiving attention, and any further representations made will of course be inquired into. At the moment the branch of the Department which deals with this work is fully occupied in endeavouring to deal with the applications which have been received.
Would the Minister say whether the information I have received in connection with the matter is correct or otherwise?
I should like to say that I appreciate the position of the officials who are dealing with this Act, but the Minister cannot do otherwise than realise that the comments at public boards, which are reported in the Press, must by some way or another be brought to his attention.