asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be reached on an unemployment benefit claim by a person (name supplied) in County Meath who is married and has ten children.
350.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Assistance and Benefit.
349.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) in County Offaly is in receipt of only £1.10 unemployment assistance per week.
351.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance was reduced from £10.30 per week to £3.30 per week to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly, in view of the fact that he has no house and no other income.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 350 and 351 together.
Due to difficulties in communcating with the local offices of my Department handling these cases, it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information asked for.
As soon as the information is obtained I will write to the Deputies.
352.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (name supplied) in Dublin who is a young man of 26, available for and seeking employment, without any income from any source and living at home with his father, a factory cleaner on a nett £36 per week approximately, is entitled to unemployment assistance or supplementary welfare allowance; if not way; and, if so, if he will be granted retrospectively.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as it has been held by an appeals officer of my Department that his means derived from the value of his board and lodgings exceed the statutory limit applicable in his case.
As regards his entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance, this would be a matter for decision by the appropriate health board but I understand that they have not received an application from the person in question. It is not likely, however, that an application would be successful as the means test for the allowance is similar to that for unemployment assistance purposes.