asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a number of men recently laid off work at the German factory, Kingdom Tubes Limited, Tralee, County Kerry are deprived of drawing unemployment benefit on account of the period they spent in Germany undergoing their course of training; and, if so, if he will now give their cases special consideration, as some of the men concerned have years of employment contributions to their credit prior to their going to Germany.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee Factory Workers.
41.
I am aware that a number of former employees of the firm in questions who claimed unemployment benefit in recent weeks had their claims disallowed because they failed to satisfy the second contribution condition for title to benefit. This condition required them to have not less than 26 contributions paid or credited in the calendar year 1960, which governed the rate of benefit payable in the benefit year for men which ended on 3rd June, 1962.
A total of 16 men who had been laid off by the firm have recently made claims for unemployment benefit. Of these, two were qualified for benefit, while the remaining 14 did not qualify for the reason I have stated. Of the 14 who did not qualify, seven were entitled to unemployment assistance and have been receiving payment accordingly, one was not entitled to unemployment assistance but is proving unemployment for the purpose of credits, and the remaining six did not pursue applications for unemployment assistance—presumably because they have found other work. I should add that a new men's benefit year commenced yesterday, 4th June, 1962, and of the 10 men who are signing at the local office at present, seven requalified for benefit from that date by virtue of having more than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year 1961, while the remaining three will continue to receive unemployment assistance subject to the usual conditions.
The shortage of contributions in 1960 and 1961 in respect of the employees in question arose from periods of absence in Germany while they were undergoing courses of training. The information available to me indicates that while they were in Germany, the men were in the employment of a German company and not of Kingdom Tubes, Limited, Tralee. In these circumstances, the employment abroad was not insurable under the Social Welfare Acts or Regulations made thereunder and, as there are no reciprocal arrangements with Germany for the purposes of social insurance, there is no way of treating any contributions paid in Germany in respect of their employment there as contributions under the Irish Acts.