asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a contributory widow's pension is assessed in full in deciding eligibility for unemployment assistance when this pension is payable regardless of means.

The legislation dealing with unemployment assistance requires that all income in cash must be taken into account in assessing a person's means. Incomes from a widow's contributory pension as from other pensions is a regular cash payment and has, therefore, to be assessed.

Would the Minister not agree that the person has contributed to that pension anyway and that there is an element of double counting involved?

That is one way of looking at it.

Would the Minister look at it that way?

Question No. 40.