asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (name supplied) in County Kerry.

Following a request from the person concerned his circumstances were reinvestigated and a deciding officer reassessed his weekly rate of means for unemployment assistance purposes at £9.75 a week. As this amount exceeded the statutory rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case—£8.55— his application of 1st November, 1976 had to be disallowed. His appeal against the deciding officer's decision was referred to an appeals officer who has requested that further inquiries be made in the case. As soon as these inquiries have been completed, which is expected to be at an early date, the case will be resubmitted to the appeals officer for decision.