asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of applicants for unemployment benefit who have been compelled to refund the amount received by them on the grounds that their employment was not insurable.

The question is unlimited in scope and, in theory, embraces the administration of the unemployment benefit code back to its inception in 1911. The earliest date from which the necessary records are available is 1st April, 1954. Since then recovery action in respect of overpayments of unemployment benefit was taken by my Department on non-insurability grounds in 351 instances.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, does the Minister not consider it inequitable that workmen should be permitted to enter into insurance and contributions accepted from them without first inquiring into the insurability of the job they are taking up? Would the Minister not consider the setting up of some body to consider the insurability of a particular workman? The Minister must be aware that contributions are often accepted from workmen for insurance benefits and they have often been paid benefits over a number of years and then, as a result of some query posed by the Minister to his appeals officer, the workmen are asked to refund the amount of insurance they have received.

It may occur but on rare occasions.

The Minister has told us that there have been 300 cases.

Over what period?

Since 1954.