asked the Minister for Health whether any decision has been made by his Department regarding the receipt of disabled persons maintenance allowance by persons in receipt of social welfare benefits; whether he is aware that persons in receipt of social welfare benefits are frequently automatically debarred from receipt of disabled persons maintenance allowance; and whether he will take steps to put an end to this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowances.
10.
Allowances to disabled persons are payable in pursuance of the Disabled Persons (Maintenance Allowances) Regulations, 1960, which were made under Section 50 of the Health Act, 1953. Article 4 (2) of these Regulations provides that in determining the amount of a maintenance allowance for a particular person, a health authority shall have regard to the means of that person other than income from home assistance. These allowances were introduced to provide some measure of relief for certain disabled persons who do not qualify for social welfare benefits and it follows that persons in receipt of such benefits would not ordinarily be regarded as eligible for a disabled persons allowance. In exceptional circumstances, however, a health authority could, at their discretion, pay an allowance in such a case.
Having regard to the purpose and nature of these allowances, I regret that I am unable to accede to the Deputy's request.