asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of children's allowance have not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Arrears of Children's Allowance.
188.
An allowance book and a payable order for arrears of allowance due have been issued to the person concerned.
189.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal to deal with representations on behalf of a person (name supplied) regarding the reduction in his rateable valuation from £10.90 to £7.50 for the purposes of assessment for unemployment assistance.
The Deputy's representations on behalf of the person concerned were considered by me and a reply was issued on 19 February last.
The position is that under the provisions of the unemployment assistance scheme a person is assessed with means derived from any holding of which he is the beneficial occupier. The reports of the investigating officer who examined this case indicate that the person concerned is the beneficial occupier of two holdings with a total land valuation of £10.90. As he resides in a specified area, his means from land are assessed on a notional basis of fifty times the land valuation which in this case is £545 a year or £10.50 weekly. His entitlement to unemployment assistance is £16.80 a week—£27.30 less £10.50 means— which is the maximum rate applicable to a married man with two qualified children in a rural area whose land valuation is between £10.00 and £15.00.
If he wishes to appeal against this assessment of means, he may obtain a form for this purpose at his local office. He may also opt to have his means factually assessed if he feels that the notional method of assessment overstates the true level of his income.