Vol. 396 No. 5
65 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore full unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if the person concerned will receive full payment of any increases due under the current budget.
The husband of the person concerned is entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly personal rate of £47 plus the appropriate increase of £80 in respect of his wife and five child dependants, a total of £127. The person concerned is in receipt of the dependants' portion (£80) of her husband's unemployment assistance claim less £5 per week in respect of the recovery of an overpayment of £5,396. This overpayment relates to unmarried mother's allowance paid to her following the date of her marriage and to which she was not entitled. A condition for receipt of unmarried mother's allowance is that the claimant notify the Department of any change in circumstances. Deductions will continue to be made until the outstanding balance of £4,634 is recovered.
Any increases due under the budget will be paid to her when they become due.
66 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare , given the special circumstances of travelling families and the stated desire of the Government to assist them to settle, if he will ensure that where a travelling woman takes up the offer to train in a training centre her husband and family will not be deprived by a reduction in their welfare allowance.
Persons who participate in FÁS non-craft courses and receive a training allowance in their own right are not considered to be dependants of their spouse. Accordingly, the adult dependant's allowance which is payable as part of unemployment payments is withdrawn. In most cases where the spouse — usually the wife — is participating in a FÁS course, the overall family income is increased because the training allowance of £47 payable to the FÁS participant is higher than the adult dependant's allowance of £29 formerly payable. Nevertheless, the reduction in their husband's payment is a cause of concern to some travelling women and I undestand that it is affecting their willingness to take up the training places on offer to them.
