asked the Minister for Social Welfare why identical letters were issued on 5th April, 16th May and 28th June, 1973, in reply to representations made on behalf of a person in Dublin (name supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Triplication of Replies.
73.
Letters were issued to the Deputy on 5th April, 16th May and 29th June, 1973, by way of acknowledgment of his representations dated 3rd April, 12th May and 23rd June respectively, on behalf of the person concerned. Because of pressure of correspondence a further reply to these representations had not yet been issued when the Deputy's question was put down. The Deputy, however, when Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, had been informed on 31st January, 1973, of the position in relation to the assessment of the person's means for unemployment assistance purposes and of that person's right to appeal against the assessment. The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance on the basis of the deciding officer's assessment.
I am prepared to extend the prescribed time to enable the Deputy's representations to be taken as an appeal against the deciding officer's decision.
Did I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say that he would not in future accept a Deputy's representations as an appeal?
No. What I did say was that I was prepared to extend the prescribed time to enable the Deputy's representations to be taken as an appeal.