asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that recipients of unemployment assistance in Waterford were recently notified that the amount of their unemployment assistance will be reduced by 2/- per week in all cases where the recipient has the use of an allotment granted by the local authority; whether this deduction is made irrespective of the productivity of the allotment; and if he is aware that in certain cases the total produce of the allotment would not realise 2/- per week.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Reductions.
I am not aware of the issue of any such notification as that indicated by the Deputy. No such notification has been issued by my Department.
Will the Minister give an assurance as to whether members of the Gardá Síochána have interviewed persons looking for allotments with a view to getting the information?
That is a different question. A person holding an allotment would have a calculation made as to the value of the income derived from it, and that would be taken into account. There was no such notification as is indicated by Deputy Corish. In any case, I should imagine that where an allotment was the only property possessed by an applicant, the income derived from it would be insufficient to make any difference in the amount of assistance given.
Have any instructions been issued to interview people who have got allotments from local authorities?
No. In the ordinary course the Department takes into account all the means possessed by an applicant when calculations are being made for the purposes of the Act.
In the case of a person who has already got a certificate to draw a certain amount of unemployment assistance, have any instructions been given to the Gárda to interview these people in connection with claims already lodged, with a view to their revision?
A person who receives an allotment after his means are assessed would be obliged by the terms of the Act to report the matter to the unemployment officer.
May I ask if the Minister has considered that such inquiries have caused a great deal of uneasiness and uncertainty in the working of the Act, and will he consider making an announcement to case such uncertainty amongst people holding allotments? Owing to doubts entertained by some applicants under the allotments scheme they refused to take them, fearing that it would mean a reduction of unemployment assistance.
I will have the necessity for such an announcement considered.