asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that in South Kerry, and particularly in Valentia Island, many single men who are the sole support of their families, are unable at present to obtain employment locally and have been denied unemployment assistance because of their refusal to go turf-cutting at Kildare, that this refusal is not due to their desire to avoid work but the fact that, in going to Kildare, they would be unable to support their families; and if, in the circumstances, he will have their cases reconsidered and payment of unemployment assistance made in order that their families may not be left destitute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kerry Unemployment Assistance Claims.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that, in some areas in the Iveragh Peninsula, such as Portmagee, Ballinskelligs, Valentia, etc., part-time fishermen and others for compassionate reasons, cannot leave home to accept employment in Bord na Móna bogs and elsewhere, thus depriving themselves of unemployment assistance, and if he will instruct officials of his Department to deal in a charitable Christian spirit in all such cases and so enable them to receive the usual benefits which may tide them over the lean months of the year.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
My Department was notified by Bord Na Móna that men were required at hostel centres for drainage and development work and turf-loading operations. It was intimated that only men who were fully suitable for the work should be sent, i.e., men of good physique, between 18 and 50 years of age, capable of and accustomed to heavy work and with experience of turf production. Accordingly, the local officers of the Department were instructed to offer the employment to single men who satisfied the stated conditions as to suitability and who had no dependents within the meaning of the Unemployment Assistance or Unemployment Insurance Acts.
In any case in which the offer was refused by an applicant for unemployment assistance and an unemployment assistance officer determined that the employment was suitable, payment of unemployment assistance was refused on the ground that the applicant did not satisfy the statutory condition for the receipt of unemployment assistance which required him to be genuinely seeking but unable to obtain suitable employment. Any person aggrieved by the refusal of his application by an unemployment assistance officer has a statutory right of appeal to a court of referees. If by reason of the applicant's domestic or other circumstances the unemployment assistance officer was doubtful as to the suitability of the employment he referred the case to a court of referees for consideration and recommendation.
The area mentioned in the Deputies' questions is served by the Employment Exchange, Cahirciveen. Out of a register of about 500 men at that office the employment has been offered to 177, comprising 150 unemployment assistance applicants and 27 unemployment benefit claimants. In the case of six applicants and three claimants the men ceased to sign the unemployed register. None of the remaining 168 men accepted the employment, and the history of their applications and claims, to date, is as follows:—
|
No. of refusals |
Allowed to continue to receive payment |
Disallowed |
Referred to Court of Referees |
Under consideration or query |
|
|
U.A. Applicants |
144 |
62 |
35 |
3 |
44 |
|
U.B. Claimants |
24 |
6 |
4 |
— |
14 |
|
Totals |
168 |
68 |
39 |
3 |
58 |
Twenty of those whose applications were refused have appealed to the court of referees, and it is open to others who have been refused or may be refused to lodge similar appeals.
Is the Minister aware that the statement that these men refused to work is incorrect? They have refused work in County Kildare, which is a different matter. In view of the fact that in that district and in great parts of County Kerry there has been intensive emigration and that where formerly five persons made up a household, three young men and their parents, there is now but one young man and the parents, I submit that it is a hardship to compel these men to report for work in Kildare instead of giving them a chance of obtaining work in their own locality. Can the Minister see his way to give some concession in these circumstances?
When the Deputy has an opportunity of studying the full reply which I have given on the matter he will realise that there is a procedure which must be adopted by those who feel aggrieved. As explained, 168 men refused this employment. So far, 68 of them have nevertheless been allowed to continue to receive benefit because the unemployment assistance officer, on examination of the merits of their claim, permitted them to continue the benefit. He has disallowed 39 applications; three have been referred to the court of referees and 58 are still under consideration. Every person whose claim was disallowed has a right to go to the court of referees. That court is constituted by representatives of workers and employers with an independent chairman, completely independent of the Minister. It is within the power of that court to allow persons to continue to receive benefit if they are satisfied that it was unreasonable to require them to accept employment in the circumstances or that the employment was unsuitable for them having regard to their physical condition. If the Deputy is interested in the matter and advises those who approached him to have their cases referred to the court of referees, they can ensure there a determination by an independent chairman completely free of any ministerial interference.