Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Question:

208 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he will locate employment for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that she has been unable to secure work, yet the Department has disallowed her appeal for unemployment assistance. [17095/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

To qualify for an unemployment payment a person must be available for and genuinely seeking work.

When the person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 19 January 2000, she was asked to provide details of her efforts to find work. Based on her response, a deciding officer disallowed her claim from 19 January 2000 on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking work.

The person concerned appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. On 23 May 2000, following an oral appeal hearing, an appeals officer upheld the deciding officer's decision. An appeals officer's decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence.