asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 5 of 1953 are being implemented in respect of claimants to unemployment benefit who have been more than two consecutive insurance years in Great Britain and who have returned to Ireland, and especially in the case of claimants who have 26 Irish stamps after returning from Great Britain; and whether such a claimant is granted credits for the relative governing contribution year, and, if not, why not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Claims.
The statutory instrument in question indicates the circumstances in which credited employment contributions may be granted to insured persons, and credited contributions are granted accordingly.
In regard to persons returning from Great Britain, the facts of each case must be considered. In general, however, the position is that for unemployment benefit purposes, credited contributions are allowable for weeks of notified incapacity or proved unemployment here but not for any period outside the State.
The statutory instrument does not enable contributions to be credited for a prior contribution year except in the case of a person entering insurance for the first time.