asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the considerable delays which occur in the transfer of the insurance record of those who have been in employment in Britain and who are seeking sickness or unemployment benefit in this country; and whether he will take steps to secure a reduction in this delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of British Insurance Records.
26.
I am not aware that considerable delays occur in the transfer of British insurance records required for the purpose of sickness or unemployment benefit claims in this country. If the Deputy will furnish me with particulars of any case in which there appears to have been considerable delay I will have it examined.
Surely the Minister does not want me or any Deputy to give examples of unusual delays?
I do not know that there are long delays.
The Minister's officials are aware.
No, they are not.
Of course they are.
My information is there are not considerable delays. When a sample number of cases were examined, it was shown all were cleared within four weeks.
I do not know who came to that conclusion, because many Deputies will know that some of the applicants on a British record have experienced delays of from two to two and a half months in getting payments.
That is not the experience of the Department.
I have been on to the officials of the Department during the past two years on these unusual delays.