asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is the policy of his Department to advise young people, who have failed to gain employment and who have been refused unemployment assistance, to apply to health boards for supplementary welfare allowance; and if so, if he has made extra money available to the health boards for these payments.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
421.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is available to any person whose means are insufficient to meet his needs and information on the scheme is available in this Department's booklet and otherwise in the same way as information on the other services for which the Department are responsible.
There are no arrangements for the automatic referral of persons who do not qualify for unemployment assistance to the health boards. However, any person who does not qualify for unemployment assistance and who indicates that he is in need of assistance would be advised to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. It is the policy of the Department to ensure as far as possible that all persons are aware of their legal entitlements under the social welfare system and there are no special arrangements in this regard solely in relation to young unemployed people.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is financed partly by the contributions of local authorities and partly by the Exchequer and provision is made in the annual Estimates for all anticipated expenditure under the scheme.