asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly who was employed from May, 1974, and who is now six weeks awaiting a decision.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
61.
On the information available to the Department when the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 24th January, 1976, the minimum of 26 contributions from date of entry into insurance required to entitle him to benefit has not been paid on his behalf.
Following investigation by the local social welfare officer credit has now been allowed in respect of contributions due but not paid by his employer during 1975. Payment of all unemployment benefit due was made to the claimant on 19th March, 1976, and further payments will continue as they fall due.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have children's allowance paid to a person (name supplied) in County Cork.
The allowance book in respect of the child concerned was issued on 11th March, 1976.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for an unmarried mother's allowance was received from an applicant (name supplied); and when a decision will be made.
The person named by the Deputy made an application for unmarried mother's allowance on 5th January, 1976. On completion of the necessary investigations she was awarded an allowance at the maximum rate of £12.40 a week with effect from the date of birth of her child. The decision was issued to her on 15th March, 1976.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a maternity grant applied for in February, 1974, by a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not yet been paid.
There is no record of the receipt in my Department of the claim for maternity grant referred to by the Deputy. A form on which to claim the grant has been issued to the person concerned and when the completed claim form is returned payment of the amount of the grant will be made.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a maternity grant applied for in September, 1974, by a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid.
There is no record of the receipt in my Department of the claim for maternity grant referred to by the Deputy. A form on which to claim the grant has been issued to the person concerned and when the completed claim form is returned payment of the amount of the grant will be made.
66.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have four disability benefit cheques, which he did not receive, reissued to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in respect of the period 21st November to 16th December, 1975.
Four disability benefit cheques in respect of the period from the 21st November, 1975, to the 16th December, 1975, were issued to the claimant's address. When the claimant complained of non-receipt of benefit for this period inquiries were made and these disclosed that the four cheques were cashed through a local trader who stated that he knew the claimant who is a customer. As however the claimant denies receiving or cashing the cheques further inquiries are being made regarding their encashment. Meanwhile a cheque for the amount of benefit due for the period in question has been issued to the claimant.
67.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Laois is qualified for unemployment benefit since 1st March, 1976, when he was taken off disability benefit; and, if so, why he has not been paid benefit.
To requalify for unemployment benefit after exhaustion of his right thereto on 4th February, 1974, the person concerned needed to have at least 13 contributions paid since 20th April, 1973. The records of this Department showed only five contributions had been so paid. Subsequent investigation of the case, however, resulted in the grant of credit in respect of 11 contributions due but not yet paid by the employers during 1973, thus bringing about requalification. All arrears of benefit due, less the amount of unemployment assistance he has already received over the period in question, is now being paid to the person concerned.
68.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there is any decision yet on the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Laois against the refusal to grant him unemployment assistance; and, if so, if he will state the decision.
A decision on the 21st October, 1975, of an appeals officer on this person's appeal against the revocation of his qualification certificate, possession of which is a necessary requirement for entitlement to unemployment assistance, has been reviewed following an oral hearing at which the applicant attended and gave evidence. The appeals officer decided that there were no new facts or fresh evidence which would warrant a revision of the earlier decision.
69.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (name supplied) in County Cork will be paid the pay-related benefit due to him.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 15th December, 1975, and pay-related benefit due has been included with flat-rate benefit in all payments issued.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been paid unemployment benefit.
The person concerned has no record of Irish insurance which would enable him to qualify for payment of unemployment benefit in this country. Neither can he qualify by virtue of his British record in the absence of at least one contribution paid in respect of insurable employment here as required by EEC regulations. He was not receiving unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom for at least four weeks prior to his departure for this country and accordingly the question of the continuation of such benefit after his arrival here, as provided for in EEC regulations, does not arise.
His application for a qualification certificate for unemployment assistance purposes was refused by a deciding officer on the ground that the statutory condition which required him to have been resident in the State for a continuous period of at least six months was not fulfilled in his case. He has appealed against this decision and arrangements are being made to have his appeal considered by an appeals officer as soon as possible.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Laois who claimed disablement benefit in November, 1975.
In November, 1975, the person concerned claimed disablement benefit in respect of a back condition attributed to an accident at work in August, 1973. The claimant's employer in reply to an inquiry in connection with the claim stated that there was no report made of any accident. The claimant was then requested to furnish full details of the said accident to the employer and a reply has recently been received from a solicitor stating that proceedings have been brought against the employer who has been supplied with the full particulars of the accident.
My Department have again written to the employer requesting that the accident be investigated and when the result of this investigation is made known the claim in question will be further considered.