Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Mary Wallace

Question:

112 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath was not approved for unemployment benefit from his Department in spite of the fact that her contract with the Bank of Ireland is terminated for a three year period, she is in receipt of her P45 and has proven to his Department that she is available for and is actively seeking work and is thus entitled to claim unemployment benefit until she obtains employment. [13926/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 7 December 1995. She had applied for and was granted a three-year career break by her employers.

A deciding officer disallowed her claim to benefit. The decision was made on the basis that the person concerned took a voluntary career break, her contract of service with her employers was not broken and consequently she was not considered to be unemployed.

The person concerned appealed the decision, was granted an oral hearing and her appeal was disallowed by an independent appeals officer on 11 June 1996.