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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Written Answers. - Smallholders' Unemployment Assistance.

John O'Leary

Question:

185 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will means test smallholders on a notional basis for unemployment assistance purposes during the winter months from October to March; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Means testing for unemployment assistance purposes for smallholders on a basis of notional income assessment based on the valuation of land is no longer operated by my Department. The notional method of means assessment ceased after the 1982 High Court judgment which declared that sections of the Valuation Acts were unconstitutional. Since then factual means assessments have been required of smallholder unemployment assistance claimants as with other unemployment assistance claimants.

The changeover from notional to factual assessment favoured those with smaller farms and-or poorer land.

Last July I improved the situation of smallholders claiming unemployment assistance by providing that home produce would no longer be assessed as means.

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