Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2010
119 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the ongoing delay in processing an application to the insolvent fund within his Department from persons who were made redundant from a company (details supplied) in County Roscommon; when the outstanding moneys will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17053/10]
View answerMy Department administers the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in relation to redundancy matters on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are two types of payment made from the SIF — rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees, and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are insolvent and/or in receivership/liquidation.
I can confirm that my Department received a number of redundancy claims from the company concerned over the period December 2008 and early 2009, including a lump sum claim for the individual concerned. Additional information was requested in relation to this claim in terms of whether the employee met the eligibility criteria of being in insurable employment with the employer for the requisite period. It appears that the former employee does not have the required number of social welfare contributions with the company and on this basis the applicant's claim cannot be processed for payment. My Department has recently written to the individual to advise him of this decision.
Issues relating to the insurability of employees under the Social Welfare Acts must be decided in accordance with the decisions and appeals procedures provided for in the Social Welfare Acts, as administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Where an employee is dissatisfied with a decision as to insurability under these Acts, he or she may appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The contact address is: The Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Notice of Appeal forms are available from the Social Welfare Appeals Office or from local offices of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
