asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that various employees of Roscommon County Council who are resident in the Elphin area and temporarily unemployed were refused unemployment benefit at Carrick-on-Shannon Labour Exchange because they could not leave their homes to take up employment at Ballyshannon, County Donegal; if this refusal to pay unemployment benefit is in accordance with Government policy; and, if not, whether he will take steps to have the men referred to paid the benefit to which they are entitled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon County Council Employees.
I am aware that three men resident in Elphin area whose last employment was stated to have been with the Roscommon County Council refused employment offered to them at Ballyshannon and were refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they were not unable to obtain suitable employment. One of the men had been unemployed since September last and the others since the 19th and 22nd January, respectively.
The Unemployment Insurance Acts do not permit unemployment benefit to be paid to any person while suitable employment is available for him. If these claimants are dissatisfied with the decisions given on their claims, it is open to them to exercise their statutory rights of appeal to the court of referees.
Is the Minister aware that a similar situation obtains in North Sligo? Men there cannot take up work in Ballyshannon owing to domestic difficulties.
I am not aware of the domestic difficulties which prevent workers from taking up employment, but if they are refused benefit because they decline to accept what is considered to be a suitable offer of employment it is open to them to appeal to the court of referees, which has power to reaffirm the disallowance of benefit or to authorise the payment of benefit, according to the circumstances of the case. I may add that the employment available at Ballyshannon is remunerated at the rate of 1/10 per hour for a 48-hour week, and that hut accommodation, with full board, is available at 33/- per week, and that the employment is stated to be likely to continue for a period of some years.
Is the Minister aware of the difficulty of getting board and lodging there?
I understand that hut accommodation, with full board, is made available at Ballyshannon at a charge of 33/- per week, which can be paid from a wage of 1/10 an hour for a 48-hour week.