asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is prepared to review the means test in respect of the payment of unemployment assistance as it is now causing severe hardship to families.

The means test for unemployment assistance is designed to ensure that all applicants for assistance are treated in an equitable manner having regard to the resources available to them. I am satisfied that the means test as presently operated is a fair and reasonable method of determining entitlement and allocating scarce resources to those in need.

I suggest the Act should be updated and a general review made of the regulations, because great hardship is suffered by heads of households who cannot obtain assistance if some member of the family is employed.

I accept the Deputy's point, but I would emphasise that assistance is basically to help people in need and if a sizeable income is coming into the house, account must be taken of it. We are dealing with assistance, not benefit and, as I have said, we must bear in mind that our resources are scarce. This would not be the time to do it.

I accept that but I refer to the hardship caused by the means test in certain cases. Sometimes the person in receipt of a wage would not contribute to the father or mother and that can create serious hardship. I know of such a case in my constituency.

There is a welfare fund to which they can apply.