asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of appeals under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, awaiting decision by the Appeals Committee and indicate the number of such appeals submitted before January 1st, 1935.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appeals Under Unemployment Assistance Act
The total number of appeals awaiting decision by the Unemployment Appeals Committee is 30,877, of which 23,319 were lodged before the 1st January, 1935. Of these 7,113 have been reviewed by Unemployment Assistance Officers and where it was found possible to do so revised decisions in the applicants' favour have been given.
Will the Minister inform the House how many committees are dealing with these 30,000 appeals and when he expects them to be disposed of?
The Deputy can get that information by reading the Unemployment Assistance Act.
Surely instead of practising discourtesy the Minister might show some politeness by answering questions addressed to him —firstly as to how many of the appeals were dealt with, and secondly when he expects all the appeals to be disposed of?
These are two separate questions.
Does the Minister propose to answer them?
No.
May I ask the Minister if he would not think it advisable to have the Appeals Committee on full time in order to expedite the disposal of these cases?
I have already informed a colleague of the Deputy that it is the intention to introduce amending legislation so as to devise alternative methods of disposing of appeals.
I am interested in five or six genuine cases of hardship which are waiting since last September.
Are we right in understanding that the 23,000 cases of appeal lodged before the 1st January of this year are still unheard?
No. The Deputy will have an opportunity of reading my reply in the Official Report.