asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate in respect of the period since he assumed office (a) the number of school leavers who have qualified for unemployment assistance; (b) the number of applicants in the same category who have been disqualified or deemed ineligible for unemployment assistance; (c) the guidelines or means allowed to qualify for unemployment assistance and (d) how the means are assessed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance for School Leavers.
31.
Statistics of the type requested in (a) and (b) of the question are not maintained in my Department.
As regards (c) and (d) of the question, the means of an applicant for unemployment assistance purposes are determined under section 13 of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, and regulations made under that Act. Items which are taken into account include the yearly value of all property owned and personally used or enjoyed by the applicant and all cash income, with certain exceptions, which he is likely to receive during the coming 12 months together with the value of board and lodgings enjoyed by him. Each case is decided by a deciding officer in the light of the particular circumstances pertaining to the applicant. There has been no change in these matters since I took up office.