asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the fact that a family of three, husband, wife and child (name supplied) are endeavouring to subsist on £2 home assistance after payment of rent; and what action can be taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Assistance Case.
16.
Whilst the administration of home assistance is subject to my general direction and control, such assistance is granted entirely at the discretion of the local public assistance authority and I am precluded, by law, from directing the giving of it to any individual person. I have ascertained from that authority that the person referred to in the Deputy's question has been in receipt of public assistance at the rate of £8 per week. He has become entitled to disability benefit as from 4th November.
Would the Minister state whether he received a letter from the Taoiseach's Department about this case? Is the Minister aware that the home assistance officer ascertained that the rent of the room is £6 per week, which must be paid out of the £8? Is the Minister aware that the particular person is not getting disability benefit? The family are trying to live on £2 per week.
The man had not returned the amount of his rent in his original application.
The home assistance officer ascertained that the rent was £6. They were giving him £6 a week, but when the home assistance officer ascertained that the rent was £6 they had to give him £8 in order to give him £2 to try to keep the three of them. Does the Minister think that is right?
The man was not entitled to disability benefit due to the non-payment of contributions. Eventually he became qualified.
It is a very serious matter when a man, his wife and one child are expected to live on £2 per week.
We have 148 questions to answer.
I do not care if we have 248 questions to answer. A man, his wife and one child are trying to live on £2 per week.
The Deputy may not make a statement on this. He is entitled to put a question.
Did the Minister, when investigating this case, find out why the man could not receive social welfare benefit? The Minister must have investigated this case. I hope he did.
When this case was investigated for disability benefit purposes the man was not qualified owing to the non-payment of contributions.
By whom?
By the employer. Following action taken by the Department the arrears were paid and the man became qualified but the amount he will get in disability benefit will be approximately the same as he has been getting.
Is the man still expected to live on £2 per week?
The rent which he has to pay has no bearing on the social welfare payment.
The man will get nothing more than he has had?
No. He was offered accommodation at £4 10s but he did not accept it.
He will take accommodation at anything.
He was offered accommodation at £4 10s per week.
A few moments ago the Minister did not know he was paying £6 but now the Minister knows he was.
I had nothing to do with the granting of the home assistance and the Deputy knows that.
The Minister seems to have a lot of information.
I have it on the file. I got it from the home assistance officer.