andMr. Spring asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a number of small farmers who made application for the new unemployment assistance were informed, prior to any decision as to whether they were qualified to receive it, that this assistance was to be discontinued from 9th March until November next; if he is further aware of the grave disquiet existing among these farmers who were under the impression that this new assistance was to be paid throughout the year; and if he will now take the necessary steps to annul this disqualification period and pay the assistance throughout the year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance for Small Farmers.
40.
It is assumed that the question is concerned with the Unemployment Assistance (Employment Period) Order, 1966, in so far as that Order affects new smallholder-applicants from congested areas in the West. As was made clear from the outset, the special provisions for these smallholders contained in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1965, referred directly to the method of calculating means derived from the use of land. In all other aspects, applications from such persons are governed by the general conditions of the unemployment assistance scheme. It follows that this class is not exempted from the operation of the Order under mention, which debars all persons resident outside incorporated towns, who are occupiers of land with a rateable value exceeding £4, from receiving unemployment assistance from 9th March to 1st November, 1966.
It is the settled procedure each year when the similar Employment Period Order is made to notify each person who is likely to be affected by it that his application for unemployment assistance is being reviewed. This is done so as to avoid any misunderstanding about the stoppage of payments and to relieve the applicant of any further trouble in furnishing evidence of unemployment unnecessarily. As soon as possible thereafter, the applicant is given formal notice of any disallowance as imposed by a deciding officer, together with instructions as to how the right of appeal may be exercised.
Any delay which may occur in a given case in determining an application for a qualification certificate will not cause any loss of payment to the applicant. Under concessions also introduced by the 1965 Act, an applicant is now free to make a provisional application for unemployment assistance while his means are being determined and the grant of a qualification certificate can be made retrospective. Thus, where appropriate, payment can date from the time of the applicant's first approach to my Department, provided the decision as to means allows him to qualify for payment. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the advance issue of a notification about the current Employment Period Order cannot of itself prejudice the right to payment up to 9th March, 1966, of any new small-holder-applicant whose means may not have been determined at that date.
As regards the general question of eliminating the Employment Period Orders, I have already informed the House that a decision to do this would involve considerable extra expense and cannot be considered at present.
Is the Minister aware that this piece of legislation created a very bad impression in the minds of the general public and, in particular, in the minds of small farmers? Farmers now with a valuation of more than £4 5s. are not entitled to any assistance from early March until November, that is, for two-thirds of the year. Surely he will agree it is most unfair that such a regulation should be imposed, precluding them from any assistance whatsoever for eight months of the year and, in view of the prevailing position, would he not agree that the Order should be abandoned and those who qualify should, when their circumstances warrant it, be paid the whole year round?
This has always been the position, as far as I know. It has certainly been the position for a long number of years and the amendment of the Unemployment Assistance Acts did not affect that aspect of the scheme.
We thought that the purpose was to help farmers to increase production, in view of the importance of increased agricultural output. Now we find that from March to November, the farmer will get nothing. I believe these farmers should be carried the whole year round.
I cannot help it if Deputy Spring did not read the Act that was passed here, but it was quite clear it referred only to a new method of assessing means in these areas.
Is the Minister aware that a farmer with a valuation of £4 is deprived of unemployment assistance? Surely a farmer with a valuation of that size cannot make any money? Surely the Order should be amended. Will he consider amending legislation so that those who qualify will be paid this money for at least a longer period than the present three or four months?
I do not rule out the possibility of amendment at some time in the future, but it cannot be done at present.
This legislation was introduced to subsidise the income of the small farmers and help them to increase production on the land. They have no production from November to March. From March to November they have production, but it is not sufficient and surely they should receive payment to help them increase production in those months and not just during the winter months? This is poor consolation to the small farmers.