asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay of 33 weeks in dealing with the unemployment assistance case of a person in County Donegal (name supplied).
123.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
122.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the delay of 24 weeks in dealing with the application for unemployment assistance of a person (name supplied) in County Donegal.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
An application for a qualification certificate and for unemployment assistance was made by each of these two persons, in March and June last respectively. As both stated they were landowners, confirmation of the extent and rateable valuation of their lands was sought from a local authority source in accordance with normal procedure. It appears that, despite reminders, the required information has not been received. To end the inordinate delay which had already occurred, instructions were issued to deal immediately with the two cases on the basis of the information tentered by the applicants. All unemployment assistance accordingly due to them has now been paid, and any adjustment found to be necessary will be made later. I regret the excessive delay which has occurred in deciding these cases. I am arranging to have a full investigation carried out in relation to the handling of the applications.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay of 18 weeks in dealing with an application for unemployment assistance by a person (name supplied) in County Donegal.
The entitlement of the person in question to a qualification certificate for the purpose of unemployment assistance was the subject of an appeal against the decision of a deciding officer revoking his qualification certificate on the grounds of excessive means.
The reason for the delay in deciding the appeal was that various local inquiries were necessary to obtain information required by the appeals officer to enable him to decide the matter. His decision has now been given, reducing the rate of means previously assessed and restoring the qualification certificate. All unemployment assistance due to the applicant has now been paid.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for a review of the unemployment assistance case of a person in County Donegal (name supplied) in view of the fact that the incident which caused this person's loss of income is known to his Department.
The applicant named made three applications for a qualification certificate under the Unemployment Assistance Acts on 10th March, 1972, 26th April, 1974 and 12th August, 1974, respectively. On each occasion a deciding officer decided that by failing to furnish particulars of his means, as required by the Unemployment Assistance Acts and Regulations, the applicant had failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit for obtaining a qualification certificate. On the notification of each decision the applicant was informed of his right of appeal to an appeals officer, but failed to exercise that right.
I may add that the investigation of means in respect of each of the three applications made in this case was carried out by a different social welfare officer.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance was not paid to a person in County Laois (name supplied) for the period from August, 1972 to January, 1973 in view of the fact that she qualified for this assistance over the period, and why replies to letters from Deputy Lalor to his Department on 17th June, 30th July and 10th September in 1974 on the subject have not been issued.
Unemployment assistance was not paid to the person concerned because a deciding officer decided that she did not satisfy the statutory condition for the receipt of unemployment assistance which requires an applicant to be available for work. The applicant did not appeal against the decision although advised of her right to do so.
I am concerned about the delays which have occurred over the past year in replying to the Deputy's correspondence and a full examination of the position is being carried out in the sections concerned with a view to determining the cause and to ensure that all representations will be dealt with promptly in future.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when the person referred to was notified of the decision of the deciding officer?
I am sorry but I have not got that information here. However, I shall convey it to the Deputy later if he so wishes.
If the Department can trace the correspondence referred to in the question, it will be found that the allegation is made by me on behalf of the applicant that she never received a communication of any kind in relation to the matter. Therefore, the question of her being notified of her right to appear could not arise. In a letter which I received during the past couple of days it was stated that a decision was given in July, 1972. My question referred to the applicant signing on from August, 1972 to January, 1973.
I appreciate the Parliamentary Secretary's promise to investigate neglect in the Department in so far as correspondence of mine is concerned. The case referred to in the question is not the only instance of this neglect.
I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to ascertain the date of the notification of a decision because if it can be established that no such decision issued, I would be asking him to accept my representations as an appeal on this applicant's behalf.
I assure the Deputy that if it can be established that this lady was not notified of a decision or, indeed, if there is any doubt in the matter, the Deputy's representations will be accepted as an appeal. Again, I apologise to the Deputy for the way in which his correspondence has been neglected.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give to other Deputies the same assurance in relation to representations as he has given to Deputy Lalor?
I am not prepared to broaden the scope of what I have indicated to Deputy Lalor. That was in relation to a specific case.
What about the rest of us?