asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of applicants in County Leitrim for unemployment assistance who have had their means reviewed during the year ended 31st December, 1960, and the number of such applicants whose assistance has been (a) increased and (b) reduced as a result of such review.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Review of Leitrim Unemployment Benefit Claims.
5.
As the Deputy is aware, the means of holders of qualification certificates must be reviewed when any change occurs in the circumstances of a holder, e.g. acquirement of property, marriage, change of address. The means of self-employed persons must also be re-examined periodically. Apart from the other reasons mentioned the means of the holder of a qualification certificate must also be re-investigated if his circumstances have not been reviewed for a number of years.
The number of unemployment assistance cases in the County Leitrim reviewed by Officers of my Department in discharge of their statutory duties in the year ended 31st December, 1960, was 239. Unemployment assistance was increased in 41 cases and reduced in 137 cases.
Prior to September, 1958, the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes, where such were derived from the occupation of land, was based on values for stock, crops, etc., adopted in 1940. Since September, 1958, up-to-date values, as are used for non-contributory old age and widows' and orphans' pensions purposes, have been applied to the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes.