asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can now state when a decision will be given in the case of Mr. Patrick Kennedy, Lisnanagh, Mostrim, County Longford, a claimant for national health insurance, whose case has been referred by his Department to the Minister for Industry and Commerce for decision under Section 66 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1911, as subsequently amended, and Section 10 (1) (a) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; and if he is aware of the grave hardship which is being imposed on Mr. Kennedy, who has been ill since January, 1939, and is anxiously awaiting a decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Insurance Claim.
No application has been received for decision as to the insurability under the Unemployment Insurance Acts or the National Health Insurance Acts of Mr. Patrick Kennedy's employment as a carter by the Longford County Council, but applications for decisions have been received in respect of two other carters the conditions of whose employment are understood to be similar. The Minister for Industry and Commerce has issued a decision under the Unemployment Insurance Acts on these cases on the 9th instant, and I hope to be able to issue a decision under the National Health Insurance Acts in the course of a few days.
The cases involved questions of much legal difficulty and the delay which occurred was unavoidable.