Liam Aylward
Question:62 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a free fuel allowance has been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The national fuel scheme is intended to assist households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.
Responsibility for the payment of a fuel allowance in the case in question is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board. I am informed by the board that a decision in relation to the payment of an allowance to the person concerned will be made shortly.
John Browne
Question:63 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford for the period December/ January on the grounds that the company she was working part-time for was on strike, despite the fact that the person had been let go from work at least three weeks before the strike.
Legislation provides that a person who loses his or her employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at his or her place of employment is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit unless he or she comes within certain exempt categories.
The normal pattern of employment of the person concerned was of temporary lay-offs when no work was available. During one such temporary lay-off in November 1990 employees on lay-off took industrial action over conditions of employment.
In the opinion of the deciding officer the workers on temporary lay-off, including the person concerned, lost their employment because of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute and were therefore disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit under the trade dispute provisions of the Act for the duration of the stoppage of work.
The person concerned has indicated that she wishes to appeal the disqualification. A form for this purpose was issued to her on 8 March 1991. When she returns this form her case will be submitted to the independent social welfare appeals office.