asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that when a young person is due for release from prison unemployment assistance will be paid immediately on release.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
82.
The general position with regard to unemployment assistance is that the first payment is made to the applicant in the week following the date of his claim at the latest, provided that he already holds a qualification certificate. It will be appreciated that a person undergoing imprisonment cannot at the same time be regarded as available for employment and, therefore, cannot claim unemployment assistance prior to his release. My Department have, however, had discussions with organisations concerned with the welfare of ex-prisoners and have indicated their readiness to make special arrangements to assist such persons as far as possible in making their claims and establishing their entitlement with the minimum of delay.