Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Genuine issues arise in respect of self-employed people seeking unemployment assistance. We took these issues on board in recognising that the income a person earned over the preceding 12 months could not reflect what he or she could earn during the following year. This is why new circulars were issued to inspectors. Bearing in mind some of the concerns raised by Deputy Crawford on previous occasions, a substantial new circular issued to inspectors last month to ensure, for example, they did not take sole account of previous incomes. Accounts cannot be exclusively relied upon or considered in isolation from other factors. The circular tells inspectors precisely what they should look for and advises them to be cognisant of the fact that employment is unavailable. The projected net income for the succeeding 12 months should take account of the downturn and reflect diminishing trade on a proportionate basis. We are sending the message to our offices and inspectors that there is a cohort of self-employed people who may have earned a decent income 12 months ago but cannot at present expect similar remuneration.

The figures speak for themselves when I note that 88% of applications under farm assist were granted and that 93% of those who sought unemployment assistance were self-employed. I am aware the Deputy is interested in a particular case but the issues he has set out are not reflective of the success of the scheme overall.

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