asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a number of seasonal share-fishermen in the Cashen area, Ballyduff, County Kerry, have been selected for investigation of their means under the Unemployment Assistance Acts during the past 12 months; on what basis it is calculated that they have means, since they are scarcely able to maintain themselves from the proceeds of their catches; what circumstances have arisen which warrant that their relative means should now be increased; and whether, in view of the hardship imposed by the present system of calculating means for unemployment assistance purposes, he will now introduce amending legislation to rectify the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Share-Fishermen: Investigation of Means.
It is the normal practice of the Department to reinvestigate the means of holders of qualification certificates periodically where the income is likely to vary. The cases to which the Deputy refers come within that category and, in addition, representations were received in regard to the means already assessed. In the cases in which the investigation has been completed means have been reassessed on the basis of the facts established. Means are assessable under the Unemployment Assistance Acts in respect of annual profits derived from share fishing. Before an assessment of means was made in these cases particulars of the amounts paid to the men individually were obtained and due allowance was made for expenses. Deciding officers have no option but to raise the means assessment in any case in which it is found that income is higher than it was when the previous assessment was made.
Means under the Unemployment Assistance Acts are assessable from fishing on the net profits in the same way as for other self-employed persons and it is not proposed to alter the existing position by the introduction of amending legislation.
Can the Minister state when the previous investigation of means took place in these cases?
In these cases I cannot tell. The particulars were obtained from the purchasers of the fish—the actual amounts paid to the men. Allowance was made for necessary expenses before the assessment of means. That is always the practice.
Is it the position then that a complaint was made which was investigated and that led to reinvestigation of their means?
This question has been raised in the Dáil practically every year by Deputies from Donegal to Waterford. If a person earns an average of £100 for three months it must be taken into account in assessing the means over the year.
I know this position had obtained for many years but would the Parliamentary Secretary not reconsider that position? It means that a fisherman who works for a month in the whole year is debarred from obtaining unemployment assistance whereas the man who works in insurable employment could work for six months and still be eligible for unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance and may earn ten times more than the fisherman who is working for one month.
You would have to extend the Act to include every self-employed individual in the State.