asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the long delay in the payment of unemployment benefit and sickness benefit to Twenty-Six County workers who have paid social welfare insurance contributions in Great Britain or in the Six Counties; and, if so, if he will review the reciprocal agreement entered into some time ago with a view to remedying the faults which have been discovered since it came into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment and Sickness Benefits.
Applications for transfer from Great Britain or Northern Ireland of contributions for unemployment insurance are in general determined expeditiously. The Deputy will, however, appreciate that in some cases somewhat protracted inquiries may become necessary with resultant delay. In such cases arrangements can be made for the provisional payment of unemployment assistance pending determination of the transfer position provided, of course, that the applicant is otherwise eligible for unemployment assistance.
As regards disability benefit, the position is that during the first six months of residence in this country, the British or Northern Ireland Ministry continues to be liable for the payment of benefit. It is not until the end of this period that the insurance is transferred to my Department and every effort made to reduce to aminimum the interval between cessation of benefit under the British or Northern Ireland schemes and the commencement of payment of benefit by my Department. Cases do, however, arise which require protracted inquiries to establish title to benefit here.
The operation of the agreement is kept continually under review so that, with the co-operation of the British and Northern Ireland Ministries, delays in administrative procedure may be avoided.
Is it not a fact that, while these inquiries are being made and decisions taken, applicants are prohibited from submitting for work through local labour exchanges and are, therefore, debarred from obtaining employment? Could that rule not be waived pending decisions?
I am not aware of that rule.
That is a fact.
It is not—no.
Can they be submitted by labour exchanges for employment? It must be through some Fianna Fáil cumann because I know of many who were refused.
Can anything be done when our Department writes to Belfast on two occasions and gets no reply? I know that to have happened and I am just wondering if anything can be done about it.
I must say I have heard very few complaints about the manner in which we are treated in the matter of communications with the British authorities or the Northern Ireland authorities. I will inquire into the matter.
Could the Minister say who determines the issue in case of a dispute between Departments in Britain and Departments here? I sent them a case recently where there were 23 certificates supplied. It was a case involving a decision in a dispute on the question of the liability of thepeople on the other side and here in the interests of an insured person.
The insured person does not suffer in any way. He would, of course, suffer if he claimed not to be eligible here. As a rule, he comes into benefit when he is finished with the British stamps.
Could the Minister say whether a general direction has now been given that a person who has British credits available in stamps for unemployment insurance may be permitted to draw unemployment assistance benefit pending the determination of his eligibility for insurance benefit?
Yes.
That is a general direction?
Yes. It has been there for some time, as a matter of fact.