Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs about the letters a person (details supplied) in County Mayo submitted on a claim for unemployment benefit as proof of their attempts to get work; the number of letters submitted; the areas in which employment was sought; the way in which his Department stated that the person did not seek work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6135/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To qualify for an unemployment payment, a person must be available for and genuinely seeking employment. An unemployed person is required to provide information regarding his or her availability and efforts in securing full-time employment. On request, a recipient must demonstrate that he or she is making all reasonable efforts to find work and is not being unduly restrictive in terms of the nature or location of work for which he or she is available. The onus is on the recipient to demonstrate to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that he or she satisfies all the conditions for receipt of a payment.

Having reviewed all the circumstances of the case, including all the evidence provided by the person concerned with regard to employment seeking efforts, a deciding officer disallowed the unemployment assistance claim from 4 January 2006, on the grounds that the person is not genuinely seeking work. The person concerned failed to provide sufficient evidence to show that he had been consistently seeking full-time work.

It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision and a form for this purpose has been issued to him. Under social welfare legislation, decisions on claims and the insurability of employment 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.