asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that in issuing unemployment assistance to men whose wives are in receipt of National Health Insurance, the National Health Insurance is taken into consideration as means, and no allowance of unemployment assistance for the wife is made in such cases, and if the Minister will issue instructions to his Department that in all such cases the payment of National Health Insurance will not be taken into consideration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance for Married Men.
An applicant's wife may not be admitted as a dependent within the meaning of the Unemployment Assistance Acts, if she works regularly for wages or other remuneration. The fact that she was in receipt of sickness benefit would suggest that she works regularly for wages, as otherwise contributions entitling here to such benefit would not have been paid. The question as to who is a dependent within the meaning of the Unemployment Assistance Acts is one for determination in the first instance by an unemployment assistance officer. Any applicant aggrieved by the determination of such officer has the statutory right of appeal to the Court of Referces and, in certain circumstances, a further right of appeal to the Umpire. I do not propose to give instructions to the Department in regard to this matter, which would be contrary to the meaning of the Unemployment Assistance Act.