asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered and approved for an invalidity pension; if not, if he will be placed on monthly medical certificates; and if so, when.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
9.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 9 April 1987. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
The person concerned has been transferred to the payment system whereby benefit issues weekly on receipt of monthly medical certificates.
10.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded unemployment assistance payments; if so, when and at what rate; and as his sole income is from the health board, if he will expedite payment.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with weekly means of £62.50 from 9 July 1986 and £57.37 from 1 November 1986, derived from profit from his holding. As the means assessed exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer. In January 1987 an appeals officer upheld the decision of the deciding officer.
On 19 February 1987 the person concerned again claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in light of this assessment.
11.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred back to the Wexford employment exchange as was previously the case due to her family circumstances.
There are no vacancies at present for staff in the employment exchange, Wexford, but the person concerned is on a waiting list of applicants for a permanent transfer to that office.
Such applications are dealt with in accordance with the terms of an agreement made with the staff side under the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. Under the agreement, however, a number of staff would have precedence over the person referred to in the question.
12.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the maximum rate payable in this case.
He appealed against this decision and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries have been completed and his case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
13.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a grant will be made available to provide a launderette for Annascaul community centre, Annascaul, County Kerry.
An application under the scheme of grants to voluntary bodies in the social services area has been received from the organisation concerned. The application is at present being processed and as soon as a decision is made the organisation concerned will be notified.
14.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Arrears of invalidity pension due for the period 18 September 1986 to 1 April 1987, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be issued to the person concerned on 3 April 1987.
15.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with an unemployment assistance appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned she was assessed with weekly means of £20.40, derived from the value of board and lodgings on her father's holding.
She is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £12.60 weekly, being the maximum rate payable in her case of £33 less means of £20.40. She appealed against the decision in January 1987 and in February 1987 an appeals officer also assessed her means at £20.40. Further weekly payments of £12.60 will continue to be made as they become due.
16.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 3 January 1987, when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance from 5 January 1987.
Following investigation, he was assessed with weekly means of £30 with effect from 5 January 1987. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £65.30 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £95.30 less means of £30. All arrears due to him were paid on 22 January 1987.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him on 11 February 1987 and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 2 February 1987. Inquiries have been necessary to establish if she fulfils the condition of being available for and genuinely seeking employment. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be considered in the light of the outcome.
It is understood that the person concerned is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the health board pending a decision on her unemployment benefit claim.
18.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit under the general scheme on 17 December 1986 in respect of her confinement expected on 23 March 1987.
She was not paid benefit as the Department's records indicated that she had insufficient contributions paid or credited in 1985-86, the contribution year which governed her claim. She was informed of this decision on 20 January 1987.