asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the admitted increase in the cost of living over the past six years he will state the justification for an increase in the assessment of means of recipients of unemployment assistance where there has been no change in their personal or family circumstances over the same period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance: Assessments of Recipients' Means.
19.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware from replies to recent questions in regard to the matter of the re-investigations of assessments of means of unemployment assistance applicants, the means of such persons must be reviewed when any change of circumstances occur, e.g., acquirement of property, marriage, change of address. The means of self-employed persons must be re-examined periodically. Apart from the other reasons mentioned, means must be re-investigated where they have not been reviewed for a number of years. There have been no increases in means assessments where the circumstances have remained unchanged.
The Deputy may, however, have in mind the steps which were taken in September, 1958, to apply up-to-date values in the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes where such are derived from the occupation of land. As I have stated in previous replies, the assessment of means for unemployment assistance, where such were derived from the occupation of land was, prior to September, 1958, based on values for stock, crops, etc., adopted in 1940, but since then up-to-date values, as are used for old age pension purposes, have been applied to the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes.
20.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the changes made in the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes since March, 1957.
There has been no change since March, 1957, in the things which are statutorily deemed to constitute means for unemployment assistance purposes. The Deputy may, however, have in mind the steps taken in September, 1958, to apply up-to-date values in the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes where such are derived from the occupation of land. I would refer the Deputy to the reply to the preceding question on this point.
21.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of recipients of unemployment assistance in the employment exchange areas of Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey (1) who had their means reviewed in the year ended 1st March, 1960, (2) whose means have been increased as a result, (3) whose means have been decreased as a result, and (4) whose unemployment assistance has been disallowed as a result.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a preceding question as to the circumstances in which the means of holders of qualification certificates are reviewed.
The number of unemployment assistance cases in the employment exchange area of Wexford and the branch employment office areas of Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey reviewed by officers of my Department, in the discharge of their statutory duties, in the year ended 1st March, 1960, was 64, 32, 15 and 17 respectively. Means were increased in 32 cases, 17 cases, 8 cases and 11 cases respectively, decreased in 12 cases, 4 cases, 2 cases and 2 cases respectively and unemployment assistance was disallowed in 8 cases, 5 cases, 2 cases and 1 case respectively.