asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state the number of persons to whom unemployment assistance was paid during the weeks ending May 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th and June 1st and the total sum paid in respect of unemployment assistance on each of those dates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
I am circulating with the Official Report a statement containing the information the Deputy desires.
Following is the statement referred to:—
The numbers of persons to whom Unemployment Assistance was paid, and the amounts paid, during the weeks ending May 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th and June 1st were as follows:—
|
Week Ending |
Number of Persons to whom Unemployment Assistance was Paid |
Amount of Unemployment Assistance Paid |
|
1935 |
£ |
|
|
May 4th |
91,184 |
33,082 |
|
May 11th |
90,446 |
32,807 |
|
May 18th |
90,268 |
32,571 |
|
May 25th |
90,626 |
32,641 |
|
June 1st |
90,529 |
32,498 |
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications for qualification certificates under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, received to date; the number of qualification certificates issued, and the number of applications for certificates received before (a) June 1st, 1934; (b) September 1st, 1934; (c) December 1st, 1934; and (d) March 1st, 1935, still awaiting the decision of the Appeals Committee.
The number of applications for qualification certificates received up to 1st June, 1935, was 275, 126. The number of qualification certificates issued up to the 7th June, 1935, was 238,526. The compilation of the particulars asked for in the last part of the question would involve an amount of time and labour which in my opinion would not be justified.
Will the Minister say, in view of the complaints of delay in the issue of such qualification certificates, when the balance of the claims for such certificates will be dealt with; and when it is expected that qualification certificates applied for as long as three months ago will be issued?
As the Deputy is aware, amending legislation is contemplated for the purpose of improving the machinery for dealing with appeals against the refusal of qualification certificates.
I take it the Minister is also aware of the fact that persons are prevented from claiming unemployment assistance benefit because they have not got the qualification certificates which they have applied for in some cases as long as six months ago?
In the case to which the Deputy refers the unemployment assistance officer has decided that the applicant is not entitled to the qualification certificate.
I suggest that what the Minister is saying now is not borne out by the facts; because I could give him evidence, but it is already in the possession of the chief employment officer, where I myself have had to make representations with regard to qualification certificates applied for as long as six months ago which have not yet been issued. The non-receipt of qualification certificates prevents persons from claiming unemployment assistance benefit and, because of the fact that preference for public works is to be given to persons in receipt of such unemployment assistance, prevents such persons getting work.
That is a long supplementary and it is questionable whether it is a question.
It is a very important question for those people who are waiting for the certificates.
When will the amending legislation be introduced?
The Bill has been introduced and is on the Order Paper for Second Reading.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of cases in which the payment of unemployment assistance was suspended following the receipt of anonymous reports or other such information, the average period of suspension, and the number of cases in which, as the result of Departmental investigation, payment has been resumed.
The records of my Department are not such as would enable me to furnish the information which the Deputy desires without making an investigation involving an amount of time and labour which in my opinion would not be justified.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of persons whose claims to benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, were suspended as from April 17th in consequence of the Order made by him under subsection (3) of Section 4 of that Act; and (b) the number of persons of the class referred to in the Order for whom employment was found through the medium of the employment exchanges subsequent to April 17th.
The number of persons, whose applications for unemployment assistance were disallowed as a result of the Unemployment Assistance (Employment Periods) Order, 1935, was 6,613.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, there are no statisties available from which this information could be provided and the labour involved in compiling such statistics would be too great to justify such an undertaking.
Will the Minister say whether 1,000 of these got employment through the labour exchanges?
The reason the Order was made was because it was believed that most of them were not in fact unemployed.
But of course the Minister admits that he made no inquiries to ascertain whether there was any alternative employment available for them?
They were all persons holding land over £4 valuation.
Even that would not provide them with employment.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that it has been held by officers of his Department that a person in receipt of benefit at the rate applicable to persons residing in rural areas under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, forfeits all title to benefit, either at the rate applicable to persons residing in rural areas or to persons residing in urban areas, on migrating to an urban area; whether a person so disqualified to receive benefit on the change of residence remains disqualified in respect of the residence qualification for a period of 12 months, and whether it is his intention to introduce proposals to remove the grounds of disqualification in such cases.
It is one of the statutory conditions for the receipt of unemployment assistance that an applicant for unemployment assistance in an urban area must either have been ordinarily resident in such urban area for at least one year before his latest application for unemployment assistance or have had at least three months' employment in such urban area within one year before such latest application. A person leaving a rural area and coming to reside in any of the urban areas defined by the Unemployment Assistance Act must fulfil this condition to become entitled to unemployment assistance. I do not intend to introduce legislation altering this position.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state the number of appeals under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, now awaiting decision by the Appeals Committee and indicate the number of such appeals submitted before January 1st, 1935.
The total number of appeals awaiting decision by the Unemployment Appeals Committee is 31,645, of which 23,250 were lodged before the 1st January, 1935. Of these, 8,618 have been reviewed by Unemployment Assistance officers, and, where it was found possible to do so, revised decisions in the applicants' favour have been given.
Can the Minister give any idea when the balance of the appeals are likely to be dealt with?
That will depend on the effectiveness of the machinery to be created under the new Bill.
But the Minister admits that 23,000, less 8,000, are there for six months already. Are they likely to be there for another six months?
If the amending legislation were not brought into effect they would be there probably for a longer period, but I hope the machinery to be provided under the amending Bill will expedite the clearing of those arrears of appeals.