Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I continue to receive complaints about accessing payments from people who were self-employed, whose businesses have gone bust and who find themselves in dire circumstances. In many cases such people are being asked to produce the last set of accounts for their business, which are very often those for 2007. Decisions are being taken in an entirely new scenario at the end of 2009 on the basis of their financial circumstances in 2007. Does the Minister accept that many people do not have money to pay their accountant for their 2008 accounts and, therefore, the only finalised accounts they have are for 2007? It seems to be a continuing problem. I have brought it to the Minister's attention before but it is still a problem.

The Minister said she issued advice in March 2008. Is there a need to revisit that advice? There is a need for guidelines to be issued to deciding officers dealing with claims other than those for jobseeker's allowance, such as those applying for qualified adult payments. The same rules apply to such people who are being asked for up-to-date accounts, on the basis of which decisions have been taken. Would the Minister consider issuing up-to-date guidelines?

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