Aer Lingus welfare forms
Deputy O'Reilly said workers were still unable to access social welfare payments because Aer Lingus UP38 forms were being completed incorrectly. The Tánaiste said he would raise it with the Minister for Social Protection and wanted it fixed before Christmas.
I want to raise the issue of Aer Lingus workers, many of whom are in the Tánaiste's constituency, as well as mine, so I am sure they have been in touch with him. Once again, they are having difficulties accessing their basic social welfare entitlements. This time, the UP38 forms are being filled in incorrectly. An email I received from one of the workers states:
If these forms were filled out right by Aer Lingus staff could have money owed to them in their bank accounts within 24 hours. Staff are desperate as they were counting on this money for Christmas.
I ask the Tánaiste to engage with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, to issue an instruction that these forms be processed even if Aer Lingus refuses to fill them out correctly. Failing that, I ask that he engage with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, who can instruct Aer Lingus to fill out these forms correctly. It is unfair. These people are not looking for anything they are not entitled to. They have been on lay-off for a long time. Christmas is coming and they desperately need this money.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for the question. I am aware of this problem. Some of my constituents have been in touch with me about it too. I will engage with the Minister for Social Protection on it. It needs to be sorted out before Christmas. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. I do not understand why this is still a problem. Other employers do not seem to have such a difficulty filling in these forms correctly. I do not want to finger Aer Lingus unfairly without knowing all the facts but it does seem strange that this is a recurring problem with this particular company for months now.