Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the reason for the delay in awarding redundancy payment in respect of a person (details supplied) from the insolvency fund. [22465/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department administers the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in relation to redundancy matters on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are two types of payment made from the SIF – rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees, and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are insolvent and/or in receivership/liquidation.

I can confirm that my Department received a lump sum claim for the individual concerned on 4 August, 2009. Upon examination of the redundancy claim, it appeared that the individual concerned did not have the required class of social welfare contributions with the company. On that basis, my Department raised a query with the Department Social Protection in relation to the individual's insurance class status. I understand that a decision in this regard is expected shortly. If it emerges that the individual does not have the necessary social welfare contributions with the company, my Department will be obliged to refuse payment of the claim.

Issues relating to the insurability of employees under the Social Welfare Acts must be decided in accordance with the decisions and appeals procedures provided for in the Social Welfare Acts, as administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Where an employee is dissatisfied with a decision as to insurability under these Acts, he or she may appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The contact address is: The Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 . Notice of Appeal forms are available from the Social Welfare Appeals Office or from local offices of the Dept of Social and Family Affairs.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of redundancies in 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 in County Mayo; his plans to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22523/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that the numbers of redundancy claims lodged with my Department for County Mayo for the years 2007 to 2009 and to date in 2010 are as set out in Table 1. I should caution that these figures reflect the number of employees who actually qualified for statutory redundancy lump sum payments. They do not reflect those who lost their jobs with less than two years service in employment given that these employees would not be eligible for redundancy. Redundancies reflect the turbulence in the labour market that has occurred following the unprecedented global economic downturn. The Government's policies across a range of areas including banking, education and skills, innovation and enterprise development are focussed on supporting our overall national objectives of reducing unemployment, regional development and building the Smart Economy.