asked the Minister for Social Welfare if 20 weeks' unemployment benefit which was owed to a person in County Leitrim at the time of his death in April, 1975, will now be paid to his brother (details supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit.
14.
According to the records of my Department there was no unemployment benefit due to the deceased person at the time of his death. He returned to this country from Britain on 31st January, 1969, and was paid disability benefit by my Department on foot of his British insurance from that date until 31st March, 1973, when his claim was transferred to the British Department of Health and Social Security under EEC Regulations.
A claim for retirement pension was received from him in my Department on 24th March, 1975, but he has no pension entitlement on his Irish insurance alone. His pension entitlements, under EEC regulations on a combination of his Irish and British insurances are being investigated by my Department and the British authorities. As soon as his pension position is determined his brother will be informed by my Department and it will be open to him then to submit a claim in respect of any pension arrears that may be due.
15.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why two persons in Sligo town (names supplied) were refused unemployment benefit.
One of the persons concerned made a claim for unemployment benefit on 3rd January, 1975, and payment of benefit was authorised subject to review of the question as to whether she satisfied the statutory condition for receipt of unemployment benefit which requires a claimant to be available for employment. Following review, her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer with effect from 3rd April, 1975, on the ground that this condition was not satisfied. The decision of the deciding officer was upheld by an appeals officer after an oral hearing at which the claimant attended and gave evidence.
The claim for unemployment benefit made by the second person concerned on 25th February, 1975, was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that the statutory condition for receipt of unemployment benefit which requires a claimant to be available for employment was not satisfied. The decision of the deciding officer was upheld by an appeals officer after an oral hearing at which the claimant attended and gave evidence.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say why it is being made so difficult for married women to qualify for unemployment benefit?
I do not agree with the implication in the Deputy's supplementary question that there is any difference between married women and other women. As the Deputy knows, under legislation it is necessary that the claimant be available for work. As I pointed out in reply to the Deputy's question, that condition was not met in the view of a deciding officer and, on appeal, by an appeals officer in both cases.
Both these people are available for work if they could get jobs.
As the Deputy will appreciate the Minister is not in a position to dictate to a deciding officer or an appeals officer. They determine individual cases on their merits. The machinery available has been utilised by the claimants in this respect and there is nothing I can do.
The Parliamentary Secretary said in this House some months ago, in reply to a supplementary question of mine, that the majority of applications from married women qualified for benefit. Here are two such people who did not. I might state quite clearly again that the majority of them do not qualify because of the strict control exercised by deciding and appeals officers, perhaps under direction from the Parliamentary Secretary.
I can assure the Deputy and the House—and I shall not take offence at the implication in the Deputy's supplementary question that it is under the direction of the Minister or myself, because I do not think it was meant that way——
No.
But it would be totally improper, under the terms of legislation, for either the Minister or myself to interfere with a decision of an appeals officer.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House how many married applicants who applied for unemployment benefit have been refused?
I am sorry, I have not that information.
That is a separate question.