asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the hardship caused to unemployed persons, he will take steps to abolish the three-day waiting period before the receipt of unemployment benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waiting Period for Unemployment Benefit.
95.
I am satisfied that the three-day waiting period for unemployment benefit is not unreasonable and I do not propose to seek the amending legislation which would be required to abolish it. It perhaps needs to be pointed out that unless an interval of more than 13 weeks has elapsed since unemployment or disability benefit was last obtained, payment of unemployment benefit is in general made as from the first day in respect of which benefit is claimed. Furthermore, in some cases in which a waiting period is necessary on a claim for unemployment benefit, payment of unemployment assistance may be made for the waiting days.
That is very helpful indeed to the poor, unemployed people.