asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate the recent changes in the unemployment benefit payment system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Payments.
5.
The answer to the Deputy's question is "none."
Am I to assume from that reply that there are no changes in the regulations governing the payment of social welfare benefits and, that being so, am I to assume that decisions made on classifications of assistance are erroneous and need rectification? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that applicants for unemployment benefit who hold 78 contributions over a three year period did not have to comply with a means test up to recently? Is he aware that this regulation is now changed and that, irrespective of the number of contributions over the three year period, applicants have to comply with a means test? As a result of that a number of applicants have been disqualified and will the Parliamentary Secretary see that steps are taken to change the decisions in such cases and pay the benefit to date?
The question the Minister was asked is "If he will indicate the recent changes in the unemployment benefit payment system" and the answer I gave is "None". I am not aware of any changes.
This is an important matter. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that applicants who had 78 contributions over a three year period were entitled to unemployment benefit without having to undergo a means test? Was that not the regulation in the past? If an applicant had 78 contributions over a three year period he did not have to comply with a means test regulation. Is that so?
I believe that is quite true.
The Parliamentary's Secretary's Galway colleague has kindly come to his assistance with what I think is the correct answer. If that is so, will the Parliamentary Secretary or the Department review claims which have been rejected in recent times and if he wants specific instances——
That is a different matter.
No, it is tied up with my question. I should like to get a statement from the Parliamentary Secretary as regards whether the regulations about contributions have been changed?
I have already told the Deputy that there is no change whatever. If he puts down a further question on some further point I shall answer him next week.
(Cavan): The Deputy will get no change out of the Parliamentary Secretary.
If he had any to get, he would get it.
Assuming the Parliamentary Secretary's reply is correct and that no change has taken place is it not reasonable to assume that decisions made by the Department on recent applications were erroneous and in conflict with the regulations and should be changed? Will the Parliamentary Secretary ensure that such changes will be made forthwith?
I have no information that there was any change.
I shall supply the information.
If the Deputy does, I shall look into it.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary remember answering a question from me a fortnight ago about unemployment benefit to people who are laid off work because of the ESB strike?
Yes.
The Parliamentary Secretary then said that Saturday was no longer counted as a working day. Is that not a change, the first time it ever happened?
I do not think so. I am not aware of it.
It is a change. Saturday was always counted as a working day and the benefit was calculated on the basis of one-sixth of a weekly wage until the 15th April last. It was a change. The answer is incorrect.
No, it was always the regulation——
It is incorrect. Out of the Parliamentary Secretary's own mouth it is incorrect.
No.