asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who applied five weeks ago and who was in receipt of disability benefit for the previous seven years.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
49.
Arrangements have been made to have all arrears of unemployment benefit due paid to the person concerned during the present week. When he made a claim for unemployment benefit on 25th February, 1977, he was requested to furnish certain particulars to establish that he satisfied the statutory conditions for entitlement. On receipt of the required information on 16th March, 1977, his claim was authorised.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
An authorisation for the payment of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned from 26th January, 1977, was issued to him on 18th March, 1977. Further payments will continue to be made as they fall due.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the application for disability benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and the inquiries that have been made to determine the number of his contributions in the relevant year.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit in respect of incapacity from 26th April to 14th July, 1976, but as no contributions had been received in respect of him in the 1974 contribution year which governed the period of his claim up to 5th June, 1976, he was not entitled to benefit in respect of that period. Payment was made on his claim from 7th June, 1976. Inquiries which were made regarding his employment in 1974 disclosed that he had three different employments in that period and contributions were secured in respect of two of these employments, but these were insufficient to qualify him for benefit. As the third employer could not be located it was not possible to either collect contributions due or confirm the period of employment. However, as a result of further inquiries, it has been possible to confirm employment for 16 weeks in 1974 and contributions have been credited in respect of these weeks. As a result the person referred to is qualified for benefit in respect of the period of his claim up to 5th June, 1976, and payment of the amount of benefit due is being made.