asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the fact that workers have been denied social welfare benefits because their insurance cards were stolen; and if he will arrange for the workers concerned to be given benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stolen Insurance Cards.
50.
Regulations under the Social Welfare Acts provide that credit may be allowed for the stamps affixed to insurance cards which are stolen from an employer where satisfactory evidence is produced that they had been stamped. Accordingly, there would be no reason for any loss of Social Welfare benefit arising in these circumstances and I am not aware of any case in which benefit was so lost. If, however, the Deputy will furnish me with particulars of any case or cases which may have come to his notice I will have inquiries made.
The Minister is obviously not aware that I referred a case of this kind to the Department approximately a month ago indicating clearly that this happened and that the people concerned have been denied benefit.
Evidence has to be satisfactory that it was genuinely stolen. If the Deputy would draw the attention of the Minister to the particular case he has in mind, it will be investigated.
I did so. It can be verified that the establishment was burgled.
It may take some time to complete investigations. If the Deputy will remind the Minister, all necessary action will be taken.
In the meantime, the people will be denied employment benefit. They cannot wait months for an investigation to be conducted, if there is delay in the Department.
The rich man's Government does not mind about that.