asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will introduce proposals for legislation fixing a limit of distance from the ordinary place of residence of a person in receipt of unemployment assistance beyond which he or she will not be required to travel for the purpose of daily work, in order to rebut the suggestion that he or she is not genuinely seeking employment in accordance with Section 15, sub-section (1) (b) of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1935.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Recipients.—Distance Limitation.
The reply is in the negative. Applicants for unemployment assistance are not disqualified from receiving it by reason only of their refusal to accept employment which is not suitable for them, having regard to their age, sex, physique, education, normal occupation, place of residence and family circumstances. The distance at which work becomes unsuitable for any person would depend partly on his personal circumstances, and partly on other factors such as means of transport, etc. All the circumstances are taken into account. It would not be practicable, nor is it necessary, to prescribe statutory limits of distance as suggested by the Deputy.