Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Decisions on the awarding of social welfare payments such as jobseeker's benefit or allowance are made by the deciding officers appointed under the terms of the Social Welfare Acts. In making decisions, deciding officers are bound by the provisions of social welfare legislation. Each case is dealt with on its merits and in accordance with the facts of the case.

Social welfare legislation provides that a person shall be disqualified for receiving jobseeker's benefit for a period not exceeding nine weeks where he or she has lost his or her employment through his or her own misconduct. The person in this case made a claim for jobseeker's benefit, having lost her employment. The deciding officer disqualified her from receipt of payment for nine weeks. This decision was appealed to the social welfare appeals office where the appeal was not upheld.

I understand the Deputy recently has been in contact with the Department in connection with this case. I am advised by the social welfare appeals office that this case has been reopened for oral hearing and that the person concerned and the Deputy were advised of this on 13 October 2014. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements for the oral hearing as soon as these have been finalised.

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