asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state, in relation to payment of dole to farmers (a) the counties in which these payments are made (b) details of valuation and size of family qualifications operable since the scheme was introduced (c) total weekly payments in each county at the latest available date and corresponding date in each year since the scheme was introduced.
Written Answers. - Dole Payments.
227.
I assume that this question relates to the amended scheme of unemployment assistance for smallholders introduced in 1966 whereby in specified areas of congestion means derived from the use of land is, generally speaking, assessed on the notional basis of £20 per £1 of land valuation. So far the information requested at (a) is concerned the answer is that the scheme applies in all counties of Connacht, together with the counties of Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Kerry, Longford, Monaghan and parts of west Cork and west Limerick.
As to (b) I am not too clear what exactly the Deputy has in mind. There are in fact no statutory qualification limits regarding valuation or family size for participation in the scheme. However, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a tabular statement showing for each year since 1966 the limits of valuation in respect of certain typical categories of smallholders at which, in practice, they would not be eligible to participate in the scheme.
With regard to (c) the answer is that the information sought is not available on a county basis.
Following is the statement:
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE OF SMALLHOLDERS IN SPECIFIED AREAS OF CONGESTION
NETT land-valuation at which means deriving from the use of land (as assessed under Section 8 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1965) equals or exceeds the scheduled rate of unemployment assistance applicable to the categories of applicants shown in each year from 1966 to 1975 and hence excluded them from receipt of assistance.
YEAR
|
1966 |
1966 |
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1975 |
|
|
Class |
(Jan.) |
(Nov.) |
(Aug.) |
(July) |
(July) |
(July) |
(July) |
(Aug.) |
(July) |
(July) |
(Apr.) |
(Oct.) |
|
Single man |
£4 |
£5 |
£5 |
£6 |
£8 |
£9 |
£10 |
£11 |
£13 |
£17 |
£19 |
£21 |
|
Man and wife |
£8 |
£9 |
£10 |
£12 |
£15 |
£16 |
£18 |
£19 |
£23 |
£28 |
£34 |
£36 |
|
Man, wife and 1 child |
£9 |
£10 |
£11 |
£14 |
£16 |
£18 |
£20 |
£23 |
£28 |
£33 |
£40 |
£42 |
|
Man, wife and 2 children |
£11 |
£11 |
£13 |
£15 |
£18 |
£20 |
£22 |
£25 |
£32 |
£38 |
£46 |
£49 |