asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that (a) his Department is refusing to pay unemployment benefit to approximately 80 employees of Bord na Móna who have been laid off at Kilberry Works; and (b) no decision has yet been conveyed to the workers concerned; and if he will state (i) the dates on which written representations were made to his Department in relation to the disputed unemployment benefit; (ii) the nature of any objections raised by Bord na Móna to the payment of benefit; and (iii) the date on which his Department's decision was conveyed to the workers concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord na Móna Workers.
29.
Certain employees of Bord na Móna at the Kilberry Works had their claims to unemployment benefit disallowed by a deciding officer under the trade dispute provisions of the Social Welfare Acts.
In the course of the usual inquiries being made by my Department a letter dated 15 March 1979 was received from Bord na Móna giving their account of the events leading up to the loss of employment of the persons concerned. Letters of 26 and 29 March 1979 were also received from the Federation of Rural Workers on behalf of their members. I am not aware of any objections raised by the management of Bord na Móna to the payment of unemployment benefit to the claimants concerned.
Some delay was experienced in conveying the formal notices of disallowance because of difficulties in communication. However, the disallowances have now been notified and a number of claimants have lodged appeals against the decisions in their cases. Arrangements are being made to have their cases heard as soon as possible.