Vol. 481 No. 1
194 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason unemployment assistance is being refused to persons (details supplied) in County Meath in view of the fact that they have provided all the necessary and required information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15477/97]
The persons concerned are a recently married couple. The woman applied for unemployment assistance as a single person on 15 July 1996 and was awarded payment at the maximum personal rate. On 6 August 1997 she applied, as a married person, for an adult dependant increase in respect of her husband and this increase has been allowed. In view of the change of circumstances the claim is being reviewed and in this connection she has been asked to furnish details of her means and those of her husband. As soon as these details are available her entitlement will be reviewed and she will be notified of the outcome.
The man applied for unemployment assistance in his own right on 6 August 1997. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he had failed to fully disclose his means. He was notified of the disallowance and of his right of appeal on 22 September 1997.
196 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason thousands of workers aged 25 and 26 years, who, in spite of having permanent jobs for more than four years, should not be able to avail of dental benefits from his Department due to the fact that, through attendance at school and college, they are unable to have the required 260 reckonable contributions; and the steps, if any, he will take to eliminate this anomaly. [15589/97]
An underlying principle of social insurance schemes is that, to establish entitlement to benefit, persons must have been insurably employed and paid appropriate rates of PRSI for a specified period. The general requirement in the case of treatment benefits is a minimum of 260 weeks paid contributions.
In recognition of the difficulties that young people would have in meeting these insurance conditions, the paid contributions requirement for those under 25 years of age was reduced in July 1992 to 39.
