Ms Mary Kennedy:

Our information on access to job seeker's allowance is that the local offices have been informed that they would have to be aware of the income of somebody who has been self-employed and is seeking job seeker's allowance. They are aware of the downward trend in the economy. They will take into account changes in the person's income and will not just base it on the previous 12 months. I know Deputy Butler said it is difficult to get the figures to prove the position because of having to pay the accountant or whatever. However, we would need some information on their position. I do not deal on a day-to-day basis with that area and do not know exactly what information is sought. When our local offices deal with these cases they are aware of the downward trend as we all are and have been asked to take that into account when assessing formerly self-employed people for jobseeker's allowance.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned that some people were being told to give up PSV licences, etc. My information is that people are being told not to deregister as self-employed. There is awareness that people can have an income from self-employment but still be in need of additional income from the State and in those cases they will be eligible to apply for jobseeker's allowance. Obviously we cannot comment on individual cases and the Deputy may be getting information on a daily basis. When dealing with people who were formerly self-employed, the instruction is for local offices to look at their income in so far as they can establish it at the moment and not just rely on the previous 12 months because there has been such a downturn. They are also recommended not to deregister and continue to be self-employed and having assessed their needs they would still be entitled to anything to which they might be entitled on the basis of that means assessment.