(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person who qualifies for free television licence and free electricity allowance as the recipient of a disabled persons maintenance allowance from a health board ceases to qualify on being transferred to a disabled person's rehabilitation allowance; and if so, if he will take immediate steps to amend the regulations so that the latter will qualify.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Facilities for Disabled.
19.
It is the practice to regard disabled persons where they are in receipt of a maintenance or a rehabilitation allowance as entitled to a free television licence and a free electricity allowance. In a recent case, however, in which the Deputy was interested, there appears to have been a misunderstanding on the part of the health board as to the position. I have taken steps to have this misunderstanding corrected and to have a free television licence and a free electricity allowance restored to the person concerned.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am much obliged to the Minister for his generous response. I would ask him to ensure that people who are undergoing a rehabilitation course will get their allowance during holiday periods. It happened in the same health board area last year that when the training centre was on holiday the people being rehabilitated were left without any allowance until representations were made. They were then paid retrospectively.
The Deputy has achieved a significant improvement in the position of this particular beneficiary.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister bear the other matter in mind? It concerns about 30 people.
I will.