asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) the reasons for refusal to grant unemployment benefit to Thomas Wallis, of Belshamstown, Batterstown, Co. Meath, and (2) why the claim of Patrick Traynor, Roestown, Dunshaughlin, was refused.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT IN MEATH.
On a claim made on the 13th February, 1928, by Thomas Wallis, benefit has been allowed for 48 days, being the amount to which the claimant is entitled in respect of the unexhausted contributions to his credit. Payment will be made to-day of so much of the benefit as has become due on the claim in question, and further payments will be made on Fridays until the total amount is paid, provided the statutory conditions for the receipt of benefit continue to be fulfilled. There was some delay in authorising the payment of benefit due to the fact that the claimant had confused the reference to his account by taking out two unemployment books when he should only have had one.
Patrick Traynor made a claim to benefit on the 11th April, 1927, which the Insurance Officer disallowed on the statutory ground that less than twelve contributions had been paid for the claimant. The claimant was notified of the disallowance and of his right to appeal to a Court of Referees within the prescribed time, but he did not exercise that right. He renewed his claim on the 21st February, 1928. Some of the contributions that had been paid for the claimant were not legally payable, because the employment in respect of which they were paid was not insurable. The value of these will be refunded if the persons who paid them apply for the amount in the prescribed form. In addition, four of the remaining contributions are also thought to have been paid in error, in that the employment was not insurable, but further inquiries are being made in regard to these. If they are finally disallowed, it will be open to the persons who paid them to claim a refund of their value. This reduces the number of effective contributions paid, as to which there is no doubt, to ten. If the four contributions that are the subject of inquiry are eventually allowed, the claimant will have fourteen contributions to his credit, and will be entitled to one day's benefit for each contribution; but if the four contributions at present in question cannot be allowed, no benefit at all can be paid on the claim, because the claimant will not be able to satisfy the first statutory condition, which requires that twelve contributions shall be paid as a condition precedent to the receipt of benefit.