Vol. 528 No. 3
193 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid unemployment benefit; and if the Department will identify where work is available to this person. [30292/00]
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 23 October 2000.
The deciding officer, having considered the person's claim, was not satisfied that she was genuinely seeking work. Her claim was disallowed accordingly.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
The person's appeal against this decision was submitted to the social welfare appeals office on 27 November 2000 and her case will be referred for early consideration by an appeals officer.
To qualify for an unemployment payment a person must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of a deciding officer, that he-she is available for and making genuine efforts to return to work. The onus is clearly on the applicant to demonstrate this.
Any efforts the person has made to obtain any employment, whether in the immediate locality or otherwise, to avail of services such as FÁS or local employment service, or to access any training available, will be taken into account by the deciding officer when deciding the case.
A deciding officer will also take into account the economic environment and employment opportunities available. However, deciding officers are not required to refer claimants to specific employment opportunities, nor could their decisions be conditional on them being in a position to do so.
