asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is married with three children is not being paid full social welfare assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
493.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £17.35 weekly the appropriate rate £75 less means £57.65. His means are derived from self employment as a builder and handyman. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries are now complete and his case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
494.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be heard.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 13 February 1985 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have him examined on 22 March 1985 by a different medical referee. His entitlement to further payment of benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
495.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people in receipt of British pensions who have been disqualified from eligibility for free electricity, free telephone rental and other benefits available to Irish pensioners; and if he will consider amending this scheme which discriminates against such people.
The free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free television licence schemes apply to persons aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare pension, a British or Northern Ireland retirement pension or an ordinary Garda widow's pension. Persons under 66 years of age, who are in receipt of blind or invalidity pensions or disabled person's maintenance allowance may also qualify. The schemes do not apply to British or Northern Ireland invalidity pensioners of whom, it is estimated, 3,300 are resident in this country. There are practical difficulties in relation to the extension of these schemes to include this category because of the difference between the Irish and British invalidity pension schemes. Any such extension would, in any event, have significant cost implications and there are no proposals at this time to extend the schemes in this way.
496.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the appropriate maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £59.40 weekly which is the maximum short term rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him as a married man with one qualified child. An increase of unemployment assistance in respect of a qualified child terminates when the child attains the age of 18 years whether or not he is attending school.
497.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) has free telephone rental; and, if so, when it was approved.
There is no record in the Department of an application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned. If he feels that he satisfies the conditions of the scheme, he should complete and return the application from which was issued to him on 12 March 1985.