Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 5

Written Answers. - Redundancy Payments.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

239 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline (1) the average length of time taken to pay out statutory redundancy payments, (2) when it is hoped to pay out the statutory redundancy payments to the 220 workers who lost their jobs on 6 April 1992 when a company (details supplied) was put into liquidation.

Minister for Labour (Mr. Cowen)

Statutory lump sums under the Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 1991, are normally payable by the employers concerned at the time of dismissal. In cases where employers refuse or fail to pay statutory redundancy lump sums the employees can apply to my Department for payment from the Social Insurance Fund. In such cases, the lump sums are paid from the Fund on average within 4 to 6 weeks of the date of receipt of application.

In the particular case referred to in the Question, my Department received applications for payment of statutory redundancy lump sums from the Social Insurance Fund on 27 April 1992 in respect of 205 former employees of the company concerned. Of these, 200 will be paid their statutory redundancy entitlement from the Fund within the next two weeks, well within the average time-frame for such payments.

In the remaining five cases, it is necessary for my Department to clarify certain details of their claims with the Liquidator. As soon as the further information is received the lump sum payments due to the employees concerned will be paid without delay.