asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that in certain cases there has been considerable delay in issuing qualification certificates under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933; whether it is a fact that in certain cases applications for qualification certificates lodged early in March are not yet determined; and if so, whether payments will be made retrospectively as from 18th April to persons who are bona fide applicants if the delay in lodging the claim and satisfying the other statutory conditions is due to the absence of a qualification certificate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Qualification Certificates.
The determination of the question whether or not applicants for qualification certificates fulfil the statutory conditions for the receipt of such certificates necessitates a full examination of all the relevant circumstances of the applicants. In the case of applicants who possess means within the meaning of Section 13 of the Act the calculation and determination of the yearly value of such means take considerable time but there has been no avoidable delay. The statutory requirements must be complied with. The work of dealing with the large number of applications for qualification certificates received is proceeding as rapidly as possible. The Act does not empower me to make the retrospective payments suggested.
Does the Minister contemplate the hardship that is going to be inflicted upon those applicants who have proved themselves eligible and who, through no fault of their own, but merely through the lack of the necessary machinery, did not receive certificates, if they are going to be deprived of benefit for those weeks?
There is nothing in the Unemployment Assistance Act which debars applicants who fulfil the statutory requirements from getting assistance. All persons who have qualified under the Act and who have received their certificates and have claimed unemployment assistance are receiving it.
But no provision has been made for those who applied long before the 18th April.
So far as I am aware there is nothing in the Act forbidding the Minister from making the payments retrospective as from that date, the 18th April.
I think that the Deputy is misinformed as to the position of persons under the Act. They have been entitled to get assistance as from 1st March. Any person can apply, and they need not necessarily be unemployed. In fact, very many did not apply for qualification certificates during the first three or four weeks of March, but towards the end of March and at the beginning of April a large number of people did apply. In each case a full investigation has to be made as to the means of the applicants and as to all the relevant circumstances. On the 18th April certificates were issued to all those who were qualified to receive assistance, and all who were qualified to receive assistance at that time received it. All the applications have not yet been dealt with, but they are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible. I do not think it would be possible to have the certificates issued any more expeditiously, taking into account the fact that a very large number of these applications have been made in the course of a couple of weeks. When that accumulation of applications has been dealt with no further delay need be anticipated.
If there is nothing in the Act definitely preventing the Minister from making an allowance from 18th April, in view of the hardship which exists, would not the Minister agree to pay bona fide claims from that date?
The Act definitely prohibits the payment of unemployment assistance except from the date upon which the holder of a qualifying certificate makes application for it. Every person who had a qualifying certificate on the 18th April, or who received a certificate since, and who has claimed unemployment assistance and established his claim has received it.
Could the Minister expedite the matter of notifying the applicant that he is qualified? I understand there has been some delay in the issue of qualifying certificates to those who have applied. Could the Minister expedite that and also give any publicity he can to the matter of their continuation?
Our point is that we are only raising this question in connection with people who made a claim prior to the 18th April.
No person was entitled to make a claim before the 18th April.
Not an actual claim, but an application to have a certificate issued. Some people who made application early in March have not been paid yet.
The matter of dealing with applications for qualifying certificates is being expedited as much as possible. Every effort is being made to dispose of these applications. It is obviously impossible to issue a qualifying certificate until the officers of the Department are satisfied that the person applying is qualified in respect of the various matters of qualification which must be proved.
Does the Minister not consider, if a person made an application for a qualification certificate in March, if his application has not yet been considered, and the certificate has not yet been issued, that it would not be unreasonable to expect that that man should be paid at least from the 18th April?
He may not be entitled to receive payment.
If he is entitled?
Any person is entitled to apply for a certificate. Any person who satisfies the means test is entitled to get a certificate, whether that person is employed or unemployed. It is only when a person has received a certificate that the question of a further claim for assistance arises, involving further investigation of the person's position.