asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the total pension of 10/6 per week, granted under the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act to James J. Devers, of 74 Marlborough Street, Dublin, is being deducted from his payment of benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Acts; and if he will bring in an amending Bill to provide that pensions granted to persons for specially honourable services to this country during the years of struggle will not be reckoned as means under the Unemployment Assistance Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act.
The appropriate scheduled rate of Unemployment Assistance in the case of James J. Devers, 74 Marlborough Street, Dublin, would be 16/6 per week if he had no means, or means not exceeding 1/- per week. His weekly rate of means, however, amounts to 10/6 and, accordingly, the scheduled weekly rate of 16/6 must, in accordance with the Acts, be reduced by 10/- to 6/6. He is being paid unemployment assistance at this rate.
The scheduled rates of unemployment assistance prescribed by the Acts are applicable to persons who possess no means at all, or means of 1/- per week or less, but for persons who possess means exceeding 1/- per week these scheduled rates are reduced by 1/- for each 1/- or part of 1/- by which the weekly rate of means exceeds 1/-. This method of distributing the amount available for payment of unemployment assistance appears to be most equitable.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I want to ask if the Minister does not see the necessity for some revision of these regulations, having regard to the fact that people in receipt of small pensions like this are deprived of them, or part of them, at the time they most require the money? Is the Minister not aware that if this man were employed he would be receiving his pension, plus his wages, but when out of employment his unemployment benefit is lost or partly lost to him through the deduction of his pension and that there is, in addition, the loss of his wages?
The principle upon which the Unemployment Assistance Act was framed was that assistance should be given to people at the rate specified minus the weekly rate of means.
Is the Minister aware that in consequence of being in receipt of this 10/6 pension the man only gets 6/- unemployment assistance per week?