asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of married women with children whose application for (i) unemployment benefit, and (ii) disability benefit, were rejected in the last year to the latest available date, the number of appeals against this decision, and the proportion of these that were allowed.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
177.
Statistics of the kind requested by the Deputy are not kept by my Department.
178.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the discrimination practised against married women in relation to unemployment benefit will be eliminated.
There are no discriminations practised against married women in the deciding of their claims for unemployment benefit. Each claim is decided on its merits by a statutorily appointed deciding officer or appeals officer in the light of the relevant legislative conditions for entitlement and the particular circumstances of the case.
The legislative conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit and other benefits will require certain amendments to comply with the EEC Directive of 19 December 1978 for the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security. As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply of 24 April 1980, it is my intention to have the necessary measures for full compliance with the directive taken well in advance of the time-scale of six years which it lays down.