asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Benefit.
213.
The reason for the delay in deciding entitlement in this case was that when the person concerned claimed benefit he had no Irish social insurance contributions in the period governing his claim and his insurance in the United Kingdom, where he had previously been employed, could not be reckoned under the EEC regulations until he had first been insurably employed in this country subsequent to his return. As a result of certain inquiries, which were somewhat protracted, had to be made into his employment situation since his return and into his efforts to obtain employment as it is a condition for entitlement that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work.
As a result of these inquiries, a deciding officer has held that the person concerned was not available for and genuinely seeking employment during the period of his claim. Consequently he is not entitled to either unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance which he also claimed during the period in question.
He may appeal against this decision and the necessary form for doing so may be obtained at his local office.