Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

209 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people claiming unemployment benefit and assistance in each of the past seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30555/03]

The numbers of people in receipt of unemployment assistance and unemployment benefit in the last seven years are detailed as follows:

Date

UnemploymentBenefit

UnemploymentAssistance

November 1997

63,359

159,123

November 1998

62,279

128,842

November 1999

58,003

99,354

November 2000

49,660

75,211

November 2001

63,106

72,632

November 2002

69,742

77,605

November 2003

73,066

79,801

The figures above indicate that the total numbers of people in receipt of an unemployment payment has declined by almost one third from 222,482 to 152,867, during the period concerned.
The number of people receiving unemployment benefit has risen by 15% in the period, indicating an increase in the number of unemployed people who were recently in work. The number of people receiving unemployment assistance has fallen by almost 50% in the same period, which shows that significant numbers of people who had been unemployed were able to secure employment.
The unemployment rate in Ireland as measured on the International Labour Organisation basis compares favourably with other member states of the European Union. The most recently available seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Ireland stands at 4.9% which compares to the most recently available average seasonal unemployment rate of 8.0% in the EU in October 2003.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

210 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a lump sum of capital in the joint names of a couple is calculated as the income of both persons resulting in the spouse being denied a QAA on their partner's contributory old age pension when the lump sum in question is as a result of their spouse's employment, pension or severance; her plans to change this anomaly which denies many spouses who did not work outside of the home the full rate of QAA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30572/03]

A qualified adult allowance – QAA – is payable on retirement – old age contributory pension in respect of a spouse or partner who is wholly or mainly maintained by the pensioner. A spouse is regarded as being "wholly or mainly maintained" where she-he does not have income in his-her own right above a certain limit. This limit is currently €203.16 a week –€210 per week from January 2004. The spouse or partner's income includes income from employment, self employment, income from other sources such as rents from the letting of property, income from occupational pensions and foreign social security payments as well as income from capital.

Under present arrangements, assuming that the spouse-partner has no other means, capital of €52,059.27 or less will give entitlement to the full rate of QAA. Capital of €52,059.28 to €79,993.55 will give entitlement to a reduced rate of QAA. The latter amount of capital will increase to €81,263.29 with effect from January 2004.

Where capital is in joint names, for example in the names of both the pensioner and the spouse, both parties are the legal owners of the capital. As a result, my Department, in such cases, assesses half the capital against each. In the event of any changes in the amount of capital held by the spouse or partner, either jointly or singly, entitlement to a QAA payment will be reassessed on request.

I consider that the present arrangements are reasonable in the circumstances and there are no plans to change them.

Barr
Roinn