asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will now arrange to have unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
478.
The person concerned was refused unemployment benefit as he had already received benefit for the maximum duration to which he was entitled and did not have the required number of insurance contributions paid to enable him to requalify for benefit.
He has now indicated that he was engaged in casual employment in respect of which contributions are due but have not been paid. This matter is under investigation at the moment. When the necessary inquiries have been completed his unemployment benefit claim will be reconsidered.
479.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why sickness benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois, who applied last May.
To qualify for disability benefit a claimant is required to have a minimum of 26 contributions paid since entry into insurance and at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year governing his claim.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 29 May 1978 to 12 June 1978. He was not entitled to payment as no contributions were received in respect of the 1976 contribution year which governed his claim from 29 May 1978 to 3 June 1978 and only 14 contributions were paid on his behalf during the 1977 contribution year which governed his claim from 5 June 1978 to 12 June 1978.
Inquiries are, however, being made to ascertain whether any employment contributions are due for any periods during the contribution years 1976 and 1977.
480.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why sickness benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois, whose benefit is due since last March.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 3 March to 11 March 1978. He was not entitled to payment as he had less than the statutory minimum of 26 employment contributions paid since his entry into insurance.