asked the Minister for Social Welfare the criteria that are adopted to assess the eligibility of applicants for unemployment benefit; if the same criteria apply to persons who are totally unemployed and persons who have only succeeded in obtaining weekend work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit and Assistance.
15.
The criteria for entitlement to unemployment benefit, which apply to all applicants including week-end workers, are to be found in the Social Welfare Acts, 1952 to 1977, and are in general that benefit is payable to a claimant in respect of days of unemployment if on those days he is under pensionable age, is capable of work and available for work, satisfies the relevant contribution conditions and is free from certain statutory disqualifications. The disqualifications apply to a range of circumstances among which are situations where persons are involved in trade disputes, persons leave their employment voluntarily without just cause or refuse suitable offers of employment or have not taken advantage of any reasonable opportunity of obtaining suitable employment. Each case is decided on its merits by a deciding officer of my Department in the light of the particular circumstances.
Weekend workers claiming benefit in respect of the days on which they are not working have to satisfy the same conditions as other claimants. In their cases, however, particular attention would naturally be paid to the question of their availability for work on the days involved and the decision on this aspect would be given in the light of a number of relevant circumstances such as their efforts to seek full-time employment and whether they would genuinely avail of employment on the days in question if it were offered to them.
Would the Minister agree that these conditions apply in the case of a married woman with a child, who declares she is available for work and provides evidence that her child can be taken care of while she is at work, and who is rejected? Is he aware of the number of cases where these women are rejected even though they declare they are available for work?
That seems to be very much a separate question.
No. It is in contradiction of the Minister's statement.
The Deputy is dealing with a different matter and I would suggest that he should put down a question on it because it is a very important aspect and one in regard to which there is a great deal of misunderstanding. The question tabled is primarily directed to persons who have weekend work.
16.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite a decision in the appeal of a person (name supplied) in County Cavan against the decision terminating his unemployment assistance; and the reason for the delay, in view of the fact that there is severe hardship in this case.
The application for unemployment assistance by the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit applicable in his case. He appealed against this decision and the appeals officer upheld the decision of the deciding officer. An appeals officer's decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence.
Following representations by the Deputy, the applicant's means were reinvestigated and a deciding officer has again decided that the means exceed the statutory limit. The applicant has been notified of this decision and of his right to appeal.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister tell me when the last decision was given?
28th November, 1977.
(Cavan-Monaghan): That is the day before yesterday. Could the Minister tell me how long this appeal had been pending?
Since July. The Deputy made representations in July, 1977, and the investigation was proceeding since then. A number of protracted inquiries had to be made.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Was this man's unemployment assistance disallowed on the grounds he was in occupation of land other than the land admitted to be occupied by him?
I am afraid I must rely on the decision of the appeals officer and the deciding officer, both of whom decided his means exceeded the statutory limit.
(Cavan-Monaghan): May I ask the Minister if this man has the right to appeal?
Yes.
(Cavan-Monaghan): If an appeal is lodged will the Minister see to it that it is processed without undue delay?
Certainly.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Finally, does the Minister's information disclose whether or not the complaint in this case arose out of an anonymous letter or anonymous information?
I am not aware of that.