asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people in County Cork in receipt of social welfare assistance who should be in receipt of unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the reason for this.

There are about 180 persons receiving supplementary welfare allowance in County Cork who are also applicants for unemployment assistance. It is not possible at this stage to say how many will qualify for unemployment assistance as this will depend on whether they satisfy the means test and also the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment.

Where a person already holds a qualification certificate which is a statement of his means, he is normally paid unemployment assistance in the week of his claim. However, where he does not hold such a certificate, his means must be investigated and this requires a visit to his home by a social welfare officer. Very often further inquiries are necessary to verify various forms of income such as money in the bank, income from creameries or other sources, before a final assessment can be made. Some delay may arise in such cases and in order to prevent hardship in cases of need, applicants are advised that they may apply for supplementary welfare allowance pending a decision on their unemployment assistance entitlement.

One of the main purposes of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is to alleviate hardship in such cases and local offices work in close co-operation with local community welfare officers for this purpose. The weekly rates of supplementary welfare allowance are the same as the rural rates of unemployment assistance so that a person who receives the allowance is compensated at a reasonable level by virtue of receiving supplementary welfare allowance while his unemployment assistance entitlement is being examined.

4.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin was recently refused medical benefit.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 January 1983 and he was paid from 22 January 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 17 March 1983. Payment on his claim was disallowed from 18 March 1983 following an examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He subsequently submitted a final medical certificate which stated that he was fit to resume work on 28 March 1983.

He appealed against the decision to disallow benefit and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. That officer revised the previous decision and payment of benefit was allowed for the period from 18 March to 26 March 1983. A cheque paying arrears of benefit due was issued on 20 May 1983.

5.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of applicants from County Mayo for the free fuel allowance as operated by the Western Health Board during the winter of 1982-83; the number approved; and the cost to date of the scheme during that period.

I understand from the Western Health Board, who administer the national fuel scheme in County Mayo, that in 1982-83, 4,846 applications were received of which 4,097 were approved. The total cost for the 1982-83 season in County Mayo was £455,446.

Does the Minister have in his brief the information as to when the vouchers were sent out to these people? For instance, were they sent out at the beginning of the winter, in September or October?

I do not have the exact details. As the Deputy knows, the scheme operates for the 30-week period, October to April, at a value of £4 per week but if there is any complaint about the Western Health Board area for the season 1982-83, I would point out that the fuel allowance valued at £120 was paid by way of two cheques of £60 each. These were issued in October and in late January respectively. The cheques for all Western Health Board areas issue from the headquarters of the board at Merlin Park, Galway.

Has the Minister any information as to how many of the 4,097 who qualified were entitled to the full allowance of £120?

I do not have the full information in that regard but I shall try to get it for the Deputy. Between them, the 4,097 people who were approved received £455,000.

That would not be £120 each.

It would not be far short of it.

Would the Minister agree that it may be necessary to improve the assessment procedures for the whole scheme in the hope that the first £60 could issue early on in the winter season because if it arrives late, considerable hardship can be caused? Will it be possibel to devise some guidelines which would apply nationally in that regard?

The Western Health Board have their own system. They issue the first cheque in October and the other in late January so they do their utmost in terms of advance payments.

6.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the "wet time" benefits payable to employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Workers insured under the wet-time scheme, namely, manual workers in the building, civil engineering and painting trades, who suffer unemployment and consequent loss of wages owing to inclement weather, are entitled to payment of benefit under the scheme, provided the relevant conditions are fulfilled. The present hourly rates of benefit are: Skilled workers, 87p; unskilled workers, 79p; young persons, 32p.

The benefit is initially paid to the worker by his employer, who subsequently claims recoupment from my Department. The scheme is financed by equal contributions from employers and workers in the trades concerned, the cost of administration being borne by the Vote for the Department of Social Welfare.