Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way persons (details supplied) in County Mayo are expected to survive financially with no income coming in to the household and his Department stating that their means has to be taken from the year 2006. [9808/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is reasonable to expect persons (detail supplied) in County Mayo to live on an income in March 2008 which was earned in 2006. [9811/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 140 together.

The person concerned, who is self-employed in the construction industry, applied for jobseeker's allowance on 21 January 2008. A Deciding Officer assessed his weekly means at €385.00 and awarded the allowance to him at the weekly rate of €40.00 from 21 January 2008. A first payment, including arrears, issued to him on 25 February 2008. The means assessment in this case is based on information supplied in relation to earnings in 2006. If the person concerned provides my Department with more recent evidence of his earnings his means will be reviewed. It is also open to him to appeal the Deciding Officer's decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office and a form for this purpose was issued to him on 29 February 2008. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeal Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.