asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of each health board in the State (a) the amount of money which was recovered by each such health board from persons liable to maintain recipients of supplementary welfare allowance in each of the years from 1977 to 1988 inclusive under section 17 of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Act, 1975 and section 215 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 and (b) the number of court applications which were made by each such health board in each of the aforesaid years seeking such payments; and the amount of money which was recovered as a result of each court proceedings.
Written Answers. - Moneys Recovered by Health Boards.
81.
The legislation referred to by the Deputy provides that every person who is liable to maintain a recipient of supplementary welfare allowance shall be liable to contribute to the health board according to his ability towards any allowance granted. The following information was obtained from the health boards:
Eastern Health Board
Sums totalling £3,490 and £3,575 were recovered from persons liable to maintain in 1987 and 1988 respectively. Two court orders were made in favour of the board in 1988 following application to the District Court. The amounts recovered in each of these were £180 and £110. In both cases recovery is ongoing at the rate of £5 per week. Information is not available up to 1987.
Midland Health Board
No moneys were recovered under this heading and no court application was made.
Mid-Western Health Board
No moneys were recovered under this heading and no court application was made.
North-Eastern Health Board
£300 has been recovered in 1989 from a person liable to maintain in respect of a case that arose in 1988. No moneys were recovered for any earlier years. In all there were six cases taken to court but the board was not successful in securing recovery of allowances paid in any of them. One case arose in 1982, one in 1984 and two in 1985. The other two arose prior to 1981 but the available records do not indicate when.
North-Western Health Board
There are no records available prior to 1983. Since then, no moneys were recovered and no court application was made.
South-Eastern Health Board
Information on moneys recovered, if any, is not available; no court application was made.
Southern Health Board
Information on moneys recovered, if any, is not available; no court application was made.
Western Health Board
Information on moneys recovered, if any, is not available; no court application was made.