asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that men who are employed as agricultural enumerators do not have their social welfare cards stamped; and if he will take the necessary steps to rectify the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Enumerators.
28.
I am aware that employment contributions under the Social Welfare Acts are not being paid in respect of temporary civilian enumerators employed to collect agricultural statistics.
Any employment, involving only occasional service or service outside the ordinary hours of work, in the performance of clerical duties, is excepted from insurance by regulations made under the Acts. It has been held by a deciding officer that employment of the kind to which the Deputy's question relates comes within this exception and consequently is not insurable. I do not consider that amendment of the regulations so as to distinguish between occasional employment as an agricultural enumerator and other employments to which the exception applies would be warranted.
Surely the Minister is aware that these people in the country districts are usually ordinary working men recruited to work for a period up to 12 weeks at a wage of £9 per week and do it during their ordinary working hours? Does it not seem ridiculous that a Department of State should ask men to work at insurable employment and refuse to stamp their cards and thus make them ineligible for benefits which they may require later?
My information is that this work lasts for three weeks. It is not a question of a Department of State refusing to stamp their cards; it is a question of a decision by a deciding officer that this was not insurable employment. If any particular enumerator wishes, he can request a decision in respect of his own particular case and if he is dissatisfied, he can appeal.
Is the Minister not aware that the period is usually from six to 12 weeks? It would be rather stupid for one man to appeal against a decision covering a big number of men all over the country. Surely the Minister could have a look at it and see if an injustice is being done?
I have not got anything to do with this. It is a decision made by a deciding officer.
One of the Minister's junior officials.
He is not one of my junior officials; he is a statutorily appointed officer and the procedure for querying a decision is an appeal to an appeals officer.
If the deciding officer finds that employment was not insurable in respect of certain stamps affixed over a certain period, is the money expended on the stamps by the employer and the employee refunded?
It is.