Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the restrictions that apply to persons of 18 years and over living at home in qualifying for jobseeker's allowance at the full rate and if any changes are planned in this in the context of the four year budgetary plan [44617/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Current legislation provides that where a person, aged 25 years or under, is living with a parent or step-parent in the family home, an assessment is made of the yearly value of any benefit and privilege enjoyed by that person by virtue of residing with a parent or step parent. The value of the benefit and privilege assessed is based on the level of the parents' (and their partners) income.

This rule does not apply where the person is living with other relatives e.g. a brother or sister or with non-relatives.

There are two exceptions to this rule. No assessment is made where a married/co-habiting son/daughter is living with his/her parents or where a person returns to the parental home having had an independent life-style elsewhere in Ireland or abroad for an appreciable length of time e.g. at least 3 years. In the later case a nominal assessment of €7.00 is applied.

Any changes to the above would have to be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs. In an uncertain economic environment, my priority will be to ensure that the Government strategy to stabilise the financial position is advanced and to protect those most in need in a manner which is sustainable in the years ahead.