asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an unemployment person in County Cavan (name supplied) has not been paid unemployment benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Claims.
25.
The person concerned was not paid unemployment benefit on her claim made on 2nd December, 1974 as she did not satisfy the contribution condition which requires that not less than 26 employment contribution have been paid or credited in respect of her in the 1973-74 contribution year.
26.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the grounds on which an applicant in County Donegal (name supplied) was refused unemployment benefit.
The claim for unemployment benefit made by the person concerned on 23rd October, 1974, was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that the statutory condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit which requires a claimant to be available for employment was not satisfied. The decision of the deciding officer was upheld by an appeals officer after an oral hearing on 29th January, 1975, at which the claimant attended and gave evidence.
Is the Minister aware that this is the case of a newly-married woman who according to the new regulations announced last year would not require the qualification originally required of 26 contributions paid post-marriage in order to qualify, but she did not apply immediately she was available for work after marriage? This person's residence was 50 miles from where she worked and she could hardly be expected to return to her original employment. I would ask the Minister to let me know if these facts were taken into consideration at the oral hearing which, I presume, took place before an appeals officer.
I have no doubt the Minister will do that.
I should like to pursue this matter with the Minister. I do not want to make a speech about it but this type of applicant was brought into the category who could avail of unemployment benefit because of the new arrangement where post-marriage contributions were not required. However, I have yet to hear of a single applicant succeeding under the new management.
I believe the Minister will wish to communicate with the Deputy on this matter.