asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that Deputies are not advised for several months after they have made representations on behalf of applicants for unemployment assistance, whose claims have been disallowed, or on behalf of persons who appeal against means assessed on their qualification certificates, of the decisions on such cases, and if he will take steps to arrange that decisions in such cases are arrived at within a reasonable time, and Deputies promptly informed of the results.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Claims.
I am not aware of any avoidable delay in answering representations made on behalf of applicants for unemployment assistance or in respect of appeals against the assessment of means. The receipt of all letters is acknowledged immediately. After that, inquiries which take time, varying with the nature of each case, have to be made locally and, in the case of appeals on the question of means, inquiries by investigation officers who are not under the control of my Department have to be made. It is only when all the necessary inquiries have been made that a full reply to Deputies' letters can be issued. I am satisfied that no avoidable delay occurs in either the making of the investigations or in the issue of answers to Deputies and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
Is the Minister not aware that it is not an uncommon thing for three months to elapse between the date a Deputy makes representations and the date on which he receives a reply? Will the Minister investigate particular cases if evidence is furnished him?
Yes.
I shall furnish details of two cases to-morrow.