asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he considers the present maximum rate of unemployment assistance for single persons to be adequate for subsistence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The current rates of unemployment assistance were fixed in April 1982. The question of whether these rates are adequate to meet essential needs will depend on the particular circumstances of individual recipients which, of course, vary from one case to another. The social welfare code recognises that the payments under its various schemes may not meet essential needs in all cases and provides for special payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in such circumstances. Accordingly, persons receiving unemployment assistance, and indeed other social welfare payments, whose needs are not met by those payments may apply in addition for supplementary welfare allowance. Examples of circumstances which would give rise to such an additional payment would be a high rent liability or special heating needs. It is fully appreciated that such payments are very limited in effect.

6.