asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the difficulties of making an accurate assessment of the income of each smallholder in receipt of social welfare, if she will consider temporarily reverting to the notional income assessment due to the effects of the disastrous weather conditions over the past five years.
Written Answers. - Smallholders' Assistance.
140.
The notional method of assessing means for unemployment assistance purposes, which was based on the Poor Law Valuation System, had to be discontinued following the High Court judgment that the Valuation Acts were unconstitutional in certain respects. This position still obtains and it would not be possible to revert to the notional method of assessment.
Smallholders qualify for assistance on the basis of a factual assessment of their means such as that which applies to applicants generally. The means test is designed to ensure that all applicants for unemployment assistance are treated in an equitable manner having regard to the resources available to them. Payment of unemployment assistance is made to those who are in genuine need and is directly related to the financial circumstances in each individual case.
The aim of the means assessment is to calculate the net income generated by the farm in a normal year. It is open to any applicant who feels that his means have changed to apply for a review of his means. In carrying out a review account would be taken of any exceptional circumstances relevant to the particular case. For example if an applicant were seriously affected by crop failure this would be taken into account. However when a degree of normality was restored to the farm operation the case would generally be reviewed again so that the means assessment would reflect the normal situation.
Question No. 141 withdrawn.