asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Patrick Meehan, Droichead Nua Office, has been refused unemployment benefit, although he claims to have about sixty stamps to his credit, dating from the year 1921, and whether he will have enquiries made in the matter.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - REFUSAL OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.
I find that Patrick Meehan, on a claim made on the 30th June last, was paid unemployment benefit for 60 days, which was the maximum amount payable in the third benefit year. Mr. Meehan had altogether only 61 contributions to his credit at the commencement of the third benefit year. Sixty of these were exhausted by the unemployment benefit paid in that year. On a further claim made on the 30th October at the commencement of the current benefit year he was allowed benefit for one day, representing the unexhausted balance of his contributions to the unemployment fund. Payment of this amount, less a sum of 1/2 payable to the Home Help Authority under the Unemployment Insurance Act, was tendered to and refused by him.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that James Curtiss, Droichead Nua Office, has been refused Unemployment Benefit, although he claims to have about seventy stamps to his credit, dating from the year 1921; and if he will have enquiries made in the case; further, whether as many unemployment cards and claims were destroyed in the Rotunda Post Office, Dublin, in November, 1922, he will ensure that insured workers do not suffer loss of benefit on this account.
I find that on a claim which he made on the 30th June last, James Curtiss was paid Unemployment Benefit for 41 days. This exhausted his credit in the Unemployment Fund as there was only evidence of 41 contributions having been paid for him altogether under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. This total of 41 contributions included six contributions for which he was given credit on the Unemployment Book current for the 1922/23 insurance year which was lost somewhere about the end of the year 1922.
With regard to the second part of the question, I can inform the Deputy that credit is allowed for contributions stated to have been paid by means of stamps affixed to Unemployment Books which have been lost, destroyed, or defaced, if it is established that such contributions have in fact been paid. I will be glad to consider any additional evidence Mr. Curtiss can produce, showing that he should be credited with further contributions.