asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he was aware that a person (name supplied) was not in receipt of the full children's allowances because of the operation of certain statutory regulations; if he would amend the regulations with a view to facilitating parents in similar circumstances; and if he would make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Services.
48.
The case referred to in the Deputy's question is a most unusual and complex one. The position was explained to the person referred to in the question and she expressed herself as satisfied with it.
It is possible, however, that a change in circumstances may have occurred since and I will have further inquiries made. I should, perhaps, explain that at present the father of the person referred to by the Deputy is being paid an increase in his invalidity pension in respect of two of the children. Should the inquiry which I am now having made reveal that this person is entitled to full children's allowances then her father will suffer a reduction of £1.80 a week in his invalidity pension as against an increase of £1.75 a month in children's allowances. A change in the relevant statutory regulations is not considered necessary.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he would amend the existing legislation and regulations to allow a qualified applicant for an old age pension to receive the relevant pension granted to him or her and any back money due up to the date on which he or she became 70 years of age; and if he would make a statement on the matter.
As a person can apply for old age pension before reaching age 70 and, if qualified, obtain payment from his or her 70th birthday, I do not think that any amendment is necessary.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will agree that it is very wrong for the State to penalise a person of more than 70 years of age who, perhaps through ignorance or oversight, did not apply for the old age pension? Are not the present regulations too harsh in this respect?
Payment is made usually from the date of application. If the Deputy has any specific case in mind and lets me have the details. I shall have the matter looked into.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if persons who retired from employment in England could return to Ireland and draw unemployment benefit on the same basis as those who retired from employment in this country.
A person who indicates that he has retired from employment in this country or in England and is no longer interested in finding work could not be held to be available for work, a necessary condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit.
If, however, a person under 70 years, retired on pension here or in England by his employer, is capable of and available for further employment he can qualify for unemployment benefit in this country subject to fulfilment of the contribution conditions.
Title to unemployment benefit in the case of certain persons retired from employment in England who return to this country may depend also on the person's position in relation to the reciprocal arrangements with Great Britain.
If the Deputy will supply particulars of any case which he may have in mind I shall look into the matter and communicate with him.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in the case of a husband and wife and two children it is unfair that after the husband being employed steadily in England for 14 years he should be told on returning here that he can get benefit only for a period of 24 or 25 days?
I am not aware of the specific case the Deputy has in mind. In my reply I have asked him to let me have details of any case which he might have in mind when the matter would be looked into.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he would consider paying old age pensions to persons who had to emigrate with their families to England rather than requiring them to return every three months to draw the pension here.
The Deputy is referring presumably to non-contributory old age pensions since contributory pensions are payable abroad. Payments of an assistance nature such as non-contributory old age pensions are not normally payable outside the country which makes the payment and there would be serious difficulties in administering such schemes outside the State. I do not propose to make any change in the existing arrangements.
In cases where all members of a family have to go to England in order to obtain employment and if eventually they take their aged parents to live with them so as to provide for them comforts that they could not provide if the parents remained at home, would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it is unfair that such parents should have to return to their native towns and villages every three months to collect their old age pensions? It is not difficult to understand the hardship involved in these old people having to travel to and from England.
That is the regulation at the moment and it is indicated in the reply that the Minister does not propose making any change in it at present.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to use his influence in order to have the Minister change his mind?
The Parliamentary Secretary will be prepared to make recommendations so long as the Deputy is nice to him.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a claim for a prescribed relative allowance (details supplied) had been disallowed; and if this decision would be reconsidered.
This claim made in early 1970 was disallowed because two of the statutory conditions for payment were not fulfilled. The first of these conditions required that the pensioner be living alone, the only persons disregarded being the prescribed relative, children under 16 years of age and other persons if they are mentally or physically handicapped. The second condition required that the prescribed relative should not be a married woman wholly or mainly maintained by her husband. The decision was upheld on appeal.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he would extend the free electricity allowance scheme to non-pensioners who were living alone, totally incapacitated and unable to provide for themselves.
The free electricity allowance scheme administered by my Department was devised primarily for old people, aged 70 or over, living alone, or with certain specified persons, who are receiving social welfare type pensions. Further extension of the scheme is not contemplated.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the number of people involved would be very few and could he say whether himself and the Minister would look on this matter in a favourable and sympathetic way?
Certainly, the Parliamentary Secretary will have another look at the matter.