asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that an unemployment allowance of £1 12s. 6d. per week has been granted to support a family of eight consisting of father, mother and six dependent children whose means have been assessed at 67/- per week; and that this allowance is insufficient; and if he will explain how the figure for unemployment allowance is determined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
41.
The maximum rates of unemployment assistance are fixed by statute and are scheduled in the Unemployment Assistance Acts, 1933 to 1965. The scheduled rates are payable to applicants who either have no means or weekly means, as assessed under the Acts, which do not exceed (a) five shillings in the case of a person with one or more dependants or (b) two shillings in the case of a person without a dependant. The appropriate scheduled rate is reduced by one shilling for each shilling or part of a shilling by which the weekly rate of means exceeds five or two shillings, as the case may be.
The scheduled rate of unemployment assistance applicable to a rural applicant with a dependent wife and six dependent children is 94/6d. a week. In the case mentioned in the question, this amount is reducible by 62/- in respect of means, giving a net weekly entitlement of £1 12s. 6d. in accordance with the Acts.
Is the Minister aware that this father of a family is in fact unemployable and has no means whatever, to my own knowledge? I know the person personally.
He is working at present.
He was not working when he was claiming unemployment assistance.
But he had means.
What were his means?
He had a part-time occupation.
I am assuring the Minister that he had no such thing. I interviewed this person on Saturday last and he told me he could make that statement categorically.
If the Deputy claims that at the time he had not, it can be re-examined. I am aware he has not this part-time occupation now, and if he became unemployed the means test against him would be nil. At the time he was drawing unemployment assistance he was assessed as having this means.
I should like the Minister to explain how a person could be assessed at the rate of 67/- per week when, in fact, that man was unemployed, and how he expects a father to feed a family of six children on £1 12s. 0d. a week? Is he not satisfied that this man is entitled to claim a lot more than he was allowed by the Department of Social Welfare?
No. My information is that he had other means at the time.
I am assuring the Minister now that he had no means during that time and, in view of that, will he re-examine the case?
I shall have the case re-examined.
I thank the Minister.