Vol. 416 No. 2
278 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the reason French nationals living in this country can claim unemployment assistance and will receive it if they are suitably qualified while at the same time Irish nationals cannot claim the same type of benefit in France.
Nationally is not a condition for entitlement to unemployment assistance under Irish legislation. Any person resident in Ireland who satisfies the conditions for receipt of unemployment assistance is entitled to payment.
Entitlement to social assistance in other countries is determined under the legislation of the country concerned. European Community Regulations on social security for persons moving within the Community do not cover social assistance schemes. Proposals to bring such schemes within the scope of the regulations have been agreed by the Council of Ministers and will come into effect later this year. Under the regulation nationality conditions for schemes of unemployment assistance will no longer apply where the person concerned is a national of an EC member state.
