Vol. 467 No. 3
31 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the circumstances in which non-nationals from other EU countries are entitled to claim unemployment assistance in this State; and the total number of non-nationals in receipt of payments in 1995 by country of origin. [13058/96]
Under the Treaty of Rome, citizens of member states are entitled to travel to other member states to seek employment.
Social welfare legislation does not require a minimum period of residence in Ireland before a person may apply for unemployment assistance. The entitlement of non-nationals to unemployment assistance thus falls to be determined in accordance with the same statutory conditions as claims by Irish nationals.
The relevant qualifying criteria are set out in the Social Welfare Acts. The customer must be: unemployed, capable of work, available for work, genuinely seeking work and have assessable means less than the maximum rate payable.
The total number of non-nationals claiming unemployment payments in 1995 was approximately 2,000. This figure includes EU nationals and non-EU nationals. Details of the country of origin of those involved are not available.
32 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of appeals against decisions that his Department received in 1995; and the total number of applications allowed and disallowed. [13056/96]
The number of appeals received in 1995 was 12,353. During that year the total number of appeals resolved was 12,087.
In 8,048 cases, determinations were made by appeals officers, of which 2,013 (17 per cent of all appeals) were allowed in full and a further 1,471 (12 per cent) were allowed in part. In 2,729 (22 per cent) cases, deciding officers made revised decisions in favour of the appellant following re-consideration of the case in the light of the stated grounds of appeal. These cases did not have to go for determination by appeals officers.
In all, therefore, 6,213 (51 per cent) cases were resolved in favour of appellants in 1995. In 4,564 (38 per cent) of cases the appeals were disallowed and the remaining 1,310 (11 per cent) of cases were not pursued by appellants.
