asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the undue delay in the payment of unemployment benefit in the case of the workers employed by a firm (name supplied) in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary who were rendered unemployed through no fault of their own as a result of a trade dispute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Payment.
21.
I am informed that work ceased on 28th January, 1969, in the firm in question as a result of a shortage of fuel oil. The processing and decision of the resulting claims to unemployment benefit is a matter for and is being carried out by the Department of Labour. Benefit due is being issued this week. Having regard to the industrial situation prevailing for several weeks past, there would not appear to have been undue delay in dealing with the cases in question.
I was compelled to put down this question because it was not an individual, or even a few individuals, who were involved in this case. In fact, some hundreds of workers were involved and very considerable hardship, of necessity, accrued to themselves and their families during the past number of weeks awaiting a decision from the Minister in respect of their entitlement to benefit. Surely something should be done about matters of this kind?
My information is that work ceased on the 28th January, so that it is not unduly long, particularly in view of the fact that the local exchange branch officer is not usually geared with staff to meet peak situations dealing with, perhaps, some three hundred people at a time.
They ought to be and the Minister should see to it that they are. Three weeks without any income is a disgraceful situation.