Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce a financial assistance scheme for self-employed persons whose businesses have failed as a result of the economic downturn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13323/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I plan to keep the position of this group under review. Self- employed workers whose businesses cease or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services, have access to social assistance-based payments, such as jobseeker's allowance, subject to a means test . In assessing the means of a self-employed person, a flexible approach is adopted, taking account of the individual's particular situation and the overall economic circumstances. As it is more difficult to predict exactly what level of income a self-employed person might earn in the coming year, their income and activity levels in the last 12 months are generally used as a guide to estimate their likely future earnings. However it is not simply assumed that the previous year's earnings will be received in the coming year.