asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) in County Laois has been refused unemployment benefit.

Unemployment benefit was paid to the person concerned up to 3rd July, 1975, when she exhausted her full 312 days' entitlement. She has not made any claim for unemployment benefit or otherwise been in touch with the local office since that date. In order to requalify for benefit she would require to have had at least 13 employment contributions paid in respect of her entitlement after January, 1975.