asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (name supplied) in County Galway who has been signing on since May, 1975.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
6.
The person concerned was being paid unemployment assistance up to 13th May, 1975, on the basis that his means consisted solely of the yearly value of a holding. Payment to him was then suspended on receipt of information to the effect that he had not fully disclosed his means. Following investigation by a social welfare officer a deciding officer reassessed his means to include the yearly value of capital and income from self-employment which the applicant had not disclosed when he made his claim. As a result of the revised decision the applicant was assessed with an overpayment of £857.56 in respect of unemployment assistance paid to him and to which he was not entitled. His weekly assistance entitlements since then have been set off against this amount and the amount recovered to date is £773.76. This leaves a balance of £83.80 outstanding.
His current weekly entitlement of £8.80 will continue to be offset against the outstanding balance until the overpayment has been fully recovered. Normal payments will then be resumed.