asked the Minister for Social Welfare why the case of William Doyle, Knockorolla, Gorey, which was investigated by the Inspector of Agents in April, 1959, in respect of disability benefit was further investigated in June, 1959; if such frequent special investigation by the Inspector of Agents is a usual procedure; and if he will state the cost of each such inspection to the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Investigation by Social Welfare Inspector.
6.
The case of the insured person referred to in the question was investigated in April, 1959, as a result of information received that he had sought employment at the Avoca Mines and was not unfit for work. The Inspector making the enquiries was satisfied that no benefit had been wrongfully claimed by the insured person. An investigation made on the 28th July, 1959, was as a result of further information received that he was working. The second investigation established that he had been employed on 17th June, 1959, and had in fact been paid a fee of £1 by the Deputy who is responsible for the question. In consequence an overpayment of disability benefit amounting to 10/2d. was recovered from benefit subsequently due.
Enquiries are made by an Inspector of Agents when there is a reason to believe that a claimant for disability benefit is working. Such enquiries are combined by the Inspectors with their normal work of inspecting local Agencies and it is not possible to state the cost of each particular investigation.
I do not think my question is fully answered. Is it usual to inspect the insured person as often as this? If it is usual, is it done on a particular report from somebody in the area or is it the usual procedure for the Inspector of Agents to go out and inspect people every three months?
It is not for me to direct the Inspector of Agents about how he does his work. He does his work to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Department and to the satisfaction of the Minister.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary care to answer my question—was the Inspector of Agents sent out as a result of a report sent in by some local agent, probably of the Minister's Party, to the Department?
I am not aware of every letter that comes to the Department and I am not going to waste my time. There are people employed in the Department to deal with correspondence, and I stand over their judgment.
Would the Minister not know? Had he not full notice that this question was coming and could he not come into the House prepared to answer it? The Minister knows full well that this was a political order given on somebody's part because the man acted as personation agent for Fine Gael in the election.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say that if I give £1 to an unemployed man to help him on his way and ask him—just to keep him doing something—to sweep up the leaves that fall pretty heavily at this time of year, the Inspector is likely to come along and take 10/2d. out of the £1 that the man has been given?
If the Deputy sends a man in for 12½ hours to act as personation agent——
(Interruptions.)
Now it is coming out.
I think it is a disgrace.
It was not unemployment benefit; it was disability payment.
There is the admission now.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer my question? If I give £1 to an unfortunate unemployed man and if there is a pile of leaves to be swept up and he gives a hand in sweeping up the leaves that fall so plentifully at this time of the year, is the Inspector from the Department of Social Welfare to come along and take 10/2 of the £1 from him?
The Inspector decides what a contract of service is.
How would the Inspector know?
Am I to understand from the Parliamentary Secretary that going into a booth as a personating agent is entering into a contract of service?
I believe it is.
It is shocking.