asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the average time taken by the appeals officer at each of the main Dublin employment exchanges in the years 1957, 1958 and 1959 to deal finally with appeals lodged by persons cut off from unemployment benefit or assistance for allegedly not looking for work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Employment Exchanges—Appeals.
20.
Oral hearings for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance appeals are arranged each week for the Dublin Exchanges. The number of hearings depends on the number of appeals received but there is at least one hearing each week. The type of case referred to by the Deputy is dealt with at these hearings. The average time taken to deal with such appeals is seven days from the date of lodgment of an appeal.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary what is the procedure? Is it the officer's responsibility to establish that a person has not looked for work, or is it the applicant's responsibility to show he has? Is there any particular procedure followed?
I think the Deputy should put down a separate question.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary is the appeal made in writing or is it made in person?
The appeal is made in writing.
Have the appellants the right to appear in person before the officer?
Yes. An appellant gets four days' notice under the regulations.
If the average period is a week, what happens in regard to the alternative payment?
If the appeal is upheld——
I am talking of while the appeal is being heard?
He gets nothing from our Department.
What is the maximum he could get paid?
These are all separate questions.
He can, of course, apply to the local authority.