asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, who applied on 31 July 1978 at Edenderry employment exchange.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
414.
Unemployment benefit was not being paid to the person concerned because his Irish insurance record was insufficient to give him title to that benefit and it was necessary to get particulars of his British insurance record. This information has now been obtained. On the basis of it his title to unemployment benefit has been determined and arrangements have been made to pay him whatever is due to him.
I should point out that while he was awaiting a decision on his claim for unemployment benefit he was being paid unemployment assistance and that this will involve an adjustment in whatever payment of unemployment benefit is now due to him.
415.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, has not received a non-contributory old age pension.
A non-contributory old age pension at the maximum rate, including an allowance for his wife, has been awarded to the person concerned by the decision of an appeals officer with effect from 1 October 1977. The pension order book was issued on 9 November 1978 and the arrears due were issued on 10 November 1978.
The completion of the case was delayed due to incorrect creamery returns having been at first supplied to the social welfare officer who investigated the claim.
416.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if members of a religious order are debarred from full participation as ordinary contributors to the Social Insurance Fund irrespective of whether their employer is a religious organisation or not.
Normally members of a religious order are excepted from insurance under the Social Welfare Acts. There is provision however whereby any representative authority or body, acting on behalf of a class of persons in religion who are in paid employment, may apply to my Department to have such persons regarded as insurable if it is considered that the services rendered or the duties performed by the persons in that class and the conditions of appointment and other relevant circumstances pertaining thereto are such that, having regard to other occupations which are insurable employments, it is unreasonable that they are not in insurable employment. If it is decided that such a class of religious should be insured under the Acts the insurance provides cover against all the contingencies catered for by the social insurance schemes administered by my Department, other than unemployment and occupational injuries.
417.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Arrangements have been made for the payment of unemployment benefit to the person concerned.
418.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a non-contributory old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The local Pension SubCommittee disallowed the claim for non-contributory old age pension by the person concerned on 8 August 1978 on the ground that her means had not been satisfactorily disclosed. If the claimant is now in a position to make a full disclosure of her means it is open to her to make a fresh claim for a pension.
419.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a free electricity allowance sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is an invalid.
The person concerned is not in receipt of one of the prescribed pensions which would give him title to a free electricity allowance and his claim had, therefore, to be disallowed. However, the possibility of his becoming entitled to one of the prescribed pensions is being further investigated. I will let the Deputy know the outcome of this investigation.
420.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider altering the means test for qualification for the non-contributory old age pension so that an applicant who qualifies for a medical card will automatically qualify for the full old age non-contributory pension.
As I stated in reply to earlier questions, I have had an inquiry carried out in my Department into the operation of the means test in the field of social welfare. When the examination of the report has been completed I will consider what further action may be desirable to achieve more uniformity in the means tests for social welfare payments and other social benefits.