asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who applied ten weeks ago.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
174.
A re-examination of the record of insurance contributions of the person concerned in the governing contribution year has revealed that he is entitled to unemployment benefit. Arrangements have been made to have all arrears of benefit due paid to him.
175.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why arrears of retirement pension due since 12th May, 1977, have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned who was then in receipt of invalidity pension applied for retirement pension in August, 1977, and was awarded retirement pension with effect from 12th May, 1977. A retirement pension book was issued to him payable from 10th November, 1977, as he had received invalidity pension up to 9th November, 1977. Arrears of retirement pension for the period from 12th May, 1977, to 9th November, 1977, less the invalidity pension already paid to him in that period, amounted to £57.95 and a payable order for this amount was sent to him on 7th December, 1977.
176.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Tullamore, County Offaly, who applied ten weeks ago.
Payment of all unemployment assistance due to the person concerned was made to her on 9th December, 1977.
She has qualified for entitlement to unemployment benefit from 5th December, 1977, and payments of that benefit will be made as they fall due.
177.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois who applied on 26th August, 1977.
Payment of all unemployment benefit due to the person concerned was made to her on 9th December, 1977. Further payments will continue as they fall due. I regret that delay occurred in the handling of this case at the Department's local office.
178.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a retirement pension book has not been reissued to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned who was receiving retirement pension including an amount in respect of his wife, was overpaid that amount from 23rd June, 1976 when his wife died, until 18th August, 1976. The overpayment which amounted to £61.60 was recovered by deduction from his pension over the period from 19th August, 1976 to 16th November, 1977. He was then advised that the overpayment had been recovered and he was requested to return his pension book for replacement with a full rate book. A new pension book for £14.60 payable from 17th November, 1977, was issued to him on 7th December, 1977.
179.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position of school bus drivers and their eligibility for unemployment benefit during the periods when they are unemployed, namely school holidays.
Claims for unemployment benefit are decided by deciding officers of my Department in the light of the particular circumstances of each case and benefit is payable where the claimant satisfies the statutory conditions for entitlement. School bus drivers who can satisfy those conditions are paid unemployment benefit during periods when they are unemployed.
In accordance with usual practice, however, they are not regarded as being unemployed during periods for which payment is made to them by their employer in respect of annual leave.
180.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why pay related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who applied nine weeks ago.
Pay related benefit has not been paid to the person concerned as he has not yet supplied on form P.45 information concerning his earnings since 6th April, 1977, which is required to enable his entitlement to the benefit to be determined. As soon as the necessary information is received his entitlement will be determined without delay.