Michael Ring
Question:682 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and paid the orphan's allowance. [13448/02]
Vol. 553 No. 2
682 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and paid the orphan's allowance. [13448/02]
An orphan's, contributory, allowance was awarded to the person concerned by a deciding officer on 12 June 2002. The award is with effect from 19 April 2002. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision in a letter dated 12 June 2002.
A book of payable orders will shortly issue to the designated post office and a cheque for any arrears due, will be forwarded to the home address of the person concerned in due course.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.
683 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been told that they have been overpaid unemployment benefit, in view of the fact that this person had always given full details of their income of when they were working to her Department; if she will give a breakdown of the way in which and when the overpayment occurred; and the way in which this came about when her Department were fully aware of this person's circumstances. [13449/02]
The person concerned claimed and was paid unemployment benefit for the full period from 10 May 1999 to 10 June 2000. At the time of making her claim she indicated that she was fully unemployed and, during the period of her claim, she did not advise the Department that her circumstances had changed. She subsequently signed off the register to commence community employment, which ended in September 2001.