asked the Minister for Social Welfare when she expects the health boards to introduce the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for footwear which is normally advertised at the beginning of November each year; and if she will give details of the scheme.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
546.
I understand that the health boards will be publicising the 1981-82 footwear scheme within the next week.
The scheme is normally confined to children up to 18 years of age whose parents or guardians are recipients of supplementary welfare allowances, social welfare benefits, social welfare assistance, disabled person's maintenance allowances and infectious diseases maintenance allowances.
The only change in the scheme since last year is that the maximum amounts payable by the health boards in respect of the various shoe sizes have been increased to £8.00 for sizes 7-10, £9.60 for sizes 11-5 and £11 for size 6 and upwards.
547.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free television licence can be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who is over 70 years old and in receipt of a foreign pension.
On the information available to my Department it is not possible to say whether or not the person concerned satisfied the qualifying conditions for receipt of a free television licence.
As there is no trace of an application from him in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs I have arranged for the issue of the appropriate form which he should complete and forward to that Department. On receipt of his completed application his entitlement will be considered and he will be notified of the outcome.
548.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 23 September 1978. Payment was disallowed after 7 March 1981 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was not incapable of work. Following her appeal against the disallowance of benefit she was again examined by a different medical referee who considered her to be incapable of work. Payment of benefit was, accordingly, restored from 9 March and all disability benefit due, less refund to the health board of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has been paid to 21 November 1981.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that the claimant has been engaged in part-time employment since May 1980 and it was necessary to investigate the nature of this employment before payment could be restored.