asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has been withheld from an applicant (name supplied) since 23rd December, 1963, even though he is fully entitled to it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Unemployment Benefit Claimant.
51.
Claims to unemployment benefit are decided by officers statutorily appointed for the purpose. Before deciding the claim referred to by the Deputy, the deciding officer concerned considered it necessary to refer for investigation certain matters affecting the title of the claimant. These were, first, a question as to whether certain recent insurance contributions paid in respect of the claimant and on which his requalification for benefit depended were valid contributions, and secondly, a question as to the extent of a part-time occupation in which he was engaged on his own account. The need for inquiry on these two scores resulted in some prolongation of the time required for the disposal of the case. All inquiries have now been completed and payment of all the benefit due to the claimant has been made.