asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the delay in hearing appeals in Limerick City and that great hardship is caused to persons who have been rated as "not genuinely seeking work", and, if so, if he will have an appeals officer appointed in Limerick City, who would deal with such claims within 24 hours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hearing of Appeals.
I am not aware of any undue delay in the hearing of appeals in Limerick City. The employment exchange at Limerick is visited at regular intervals by appeals officers and I do not think that it would be practicable, as the Deputy suggests, to have an appeals officer appointed specially for Limerick since there might be weeks with no appeals or a very small number to be heard. The Deputy will also appreciate that in arranging a sitting for the hearing of appeals reasonable notice must be given to the appellants to enable them to attend and also to the assessors who sit with the appeals officer.
Is the Minister aware that Limerick City would be an ideal centre or location for the vast area around? Is he further aware that these notices to people who are drawing unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance as to whether or not they are genuinely seeking work are issued solely in most cases to justify the employment of the individuals who send out such notices? Is the Minister further aware that there are cases— I can furnish him with particulars— where individuals are waiting from six to seven weeks? It is not a fact that appeals are heard every three weeks, and the present position is most unfair. Is the Minister further aware that some months ago he promised on the Estimate for the Department of Social Welfare to do something about this anomaly, an anomaly which he admits exists?
I am not satisfied that the appointment of a special appeals officer for Limerick would be warranted. I do not think the Deputy is correct in saying that there have been delays of six to seven weeks in the hearing of appeals because the evidence I have is that on an average there have been two sittings per month in Limerick City.