asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of recipients of unemployment assistance in the employment exchange areas of Westport, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Swinford, Charlestown, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis (1) who have had their means reviewed in the twelve months ended 1st March 1960, (2) whose means have been increased as a result and (3) whose unemployment assistance has been disallowed as a result.

As the Deputy is aware the means of holders of qualification certificates must be reviewed when any change occurs in the circumstances of a holder e.g., acquirement of property, marriage, change of address. The means of self-employed persons must also be re-examined periodically. Apart from the other reasons mentioned the means of the holder of a qualification certificate must also be re-investigated if his circumstances have not been reviewed for a number of years.

The number of unemployment assistance cases in Westport Employment Exchange area, and in Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Swinford and Claremorris Branch Employment Office areas reviewed by officers of my Department in the discharge of their statutory duties in the year ended 1st March, 1960, was 50, 22, 88, 74 and 42 respectively. Means were increased in 48, 22, 67, 64 and 38 cases respectively, and unemployment assistance was disallowed in 17, 10, 20, 32 and 7 cases respectively. There is no Employment Exchange or Branch Employment Office in Charlestown or Ballyhaunis but cases from these areas are included in the figures for Swinford and Claremorris Branch Employment Offices.

Prior to September, 1958, the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes, where such were derived from the occupation of land, was based on values for stock, crops, etc., adopted in 1940. Since September, 1958, up-to-date values, as are used for old age pensions purposes, have been applied to the assessment of means for unemployment assistance purposes.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say is it a fact that there is, in effect, a stricter means test now for unemployment assistance than there was prior to September, 1938?

There is no stricter means test.

Then why was the figure for the means test increased in almost 100 per cent. of the cases?

The particular items in which the people are dealing have increased in price over the past 20 years.

Then there is a stricter means test.

No, there is not.

But the Parliamentary Secretary puts different values on particular items; he says they have increased.

Yes, the values have increased.

Then that is a stricter means test.

It is not a stricter means test.

Is it a fact that the Parliamentary Secretary sent a circular to his officials and ordered them to be more strict in the investigation of means?

It is not a fact. The Department did not send out a circular.

Oh, they did.

The Parliamentary Secretary said: "The price of the things they are dealing in has gone up." May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary what commodities he refers to when he says that the price of the things they are dealing in has gone up?

It might be fish in a great many cases.

That is a bit fishy anyway.

I am glad to hear that explanation.

It stinks.

Might I inquire from the Parliamentary Secretary since when has the fishing trade in Swinford developed on the basis of herring or cod?

The Supplementary Question did not refer to Swinford alone. It referred all round.

It is another method of cutting down employment.

Order.

5.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of persons on Arranmore Island, County Donegal, whose means were reinvestigated during the year ended 29th February, 1960, and who as a consequence had their unemployment assistance (a) decreased, (b) increased or (c) cut off.

I would refer the Deputy to the reply to the preceding question as to the circumstances in which the means of holders of qualification certificates are reviewed. The number of unemployment assistance cases in Arranmore Island, County Donegal, reviewed by Officers of my Department in the discharge of their statutory duties in the year ended 29th February, 1960, was 20. Unemployment assistance was decreased in 11 cases, increased in 2 cases and cut off in 5 cases.

And no circular was sent there.

They will be glad to know they are getting on so well that their means have increased.