asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the grounds on which a person (name supplied) was debarred from drawing unemployment benefit as from the 10th June, 1961.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Claim.
7.
The insured person referred to by the Deputy made a claim to unemployment benefit on 19th June, 1961. A Deciding Officer, in the exercise of his statutory functions, decided on the information before him that the insured person had lost employment through conduct which under Section 17 (4) (a) of the Social Welfare Act, 1952, disqualified him for receiving unemployment benefit and determined that he was so disqualified for six weeks from 10th June, 1961. The insured person has appealed against the decision. His appeal is scheduled for hearing on the 25th instant. The result of the appeal will be conveyed to the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that this person was employed up to the 15th June by the Kilkenny County Council? They had no further work for him and he applied for unemployment benefit. I feel he was entitled to it, but he was refused it from the date mentioned.
Whether or not I would share the view of the Deputy as to his entitlement to employment, is a matter that has no statutory effect. Under the Act the appeals officer is the person who decides whether a person is entitled to benefit or not.
I feel this case should never have gone to the appeals officer. This man was available for work. The employment he was in up to the 15th June concluded, and there was no more work for him. He then applied for unemployment benefit. I do not think it was a case to have gone to the appeals officer.
Of course the Deputy has been misinformed.
The Deputy has not been misinformed.
I am afraid so.
I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I have no function in the matter.
I think this man has been unjustly treated and I think I am entitled to raise the question of why he was not paid unemployment benefit although available for work.