asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the order prescribing two employment periods for rural workers during which they will not be entitled to obtain benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, applies to single men who are without means; whether it applies to single men in rural areas other than those usually designated as agricultural workers; whether before making the order he obtained evidence that work will be available for the men concerned during the currency of the order; whether if work is not available these men will be entitled to receive home assistance during the period from which the payment of unemployment assistance is suspended; whether in the event of the men concerned receiving home assistance he will be prepared to accept that fact as evidence that they are unable to obtain work, and, if so, whether in that case he will be prepared to cancel the order and restore their title to unemployment assistance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Act Order.
The order which will prescribe the period from the 17th July to the 1st October, 1935, to be an employment period will apply to all single men without dependants who reside outside the boundary of any county or other borough or of any urban district or of any town having commissioners under the Towns Improvement Act, 1854. The whole position was fully considered before the decision to make the order was taken. Payment of home assistance will not be affected by the order. I do not anticipate that a position which will involve alteration of the order will arise.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he say specifically whether there was a detailed examination by his Department in order to ascertain that certain persons in the areas referred to in the order will, in fact, be able to get employment during the period specified in the order; and, if they are not able to get employment and are forced, because of their destitute circumstances, to apply for and subsequently obtain home assistance, will he not accept their receipt of home assistance as clear evidence that the work is not available for them and will he in these circumstances agree to restore the unemployment assistance benefit since it is palpable that there is no employment to be got in these cases?
Provision for the making of such an order was contained in the Unemployment Assistance Act and the probability of such an order being made was clearly explained when the legislation was being enacted by the Oireachtas. I could not agree to accept payment of home assistance to any person as proof that that person satisfies the statutory conditions for the receipt of unemployment assistance.
Has the Minister ascertained that, in fact, employment will be available for all the people referred to in the order in the areas mentioned?
No.
So that the order has been made without any assurance that employment will, in fact, be available?
It is made in the belief that there will probably be employment available.
If it can be shown to the Minister's satisfaction that, in fact, such employment is not available, that persons are idle, that they are willing to register for employment, and that employment is not available, will the Minister in these cases agree to restore unemployment assistance benefit?
I do not think that situation will arise.
Assuming it does, will the Minister be prepared then to continue the payment of unemployment assistance benefit? Can I have an answer? It is a very important matter.
It is a very difficult matter to answer.
An opportunity of discussing this matter in full will arise during the course of the present session, and I think the Deputy might defer the debate until then.