asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (name supplied) in County Dublin who was in receipt of unemployment assistance and was subsequently convicted of a number of criminal offences had no income to provide for his wife from the time of apprehension to six months after conviction; and if he will make a general statement in relation to prisoners' wives.

If a prisoner is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than six months before he has been held in custody for a period of six months, entitlement to prisoner's wife allowance commences from the date of his conviction. Otherwise it commences from the date on which the prisoner completes six months in custody. The maximum period which can elapse before entitlement to an allowance is established is therefore six months. In the case referred to by the Deputy, the allowance was awarded with effect from the date of her husband's conviction. Her needs for the period during which he was held in custody before conviction were met by weekly payments of home assistance.

26.