Brian Cowen
Question:173 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will arrange for payment of an old age non-contributory pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned applied for old age non-contributory pension in mid-November 1989.
His claim has been investigated by a social welfare officer who requested details of his means and other circumstances, including information about the proceeds from the sale of property. A deciding officer considered that the applicant failed to give a comprehensive and satisfactory explanation of his means. In the circumstances his application for pension was rejected by the deciding officer on the grounds that his means were not fully disclosed.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the decision it is open to him to appeal within 21 days.
Tony Gregory
Question:174 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 was refused a rent allowance, if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the payment of assistance towards rent is a matter for determination by the health board.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the board was not satisfied to award a rent allowance without further evidence as to the reason the person concerned left his family home. It is also understood that the person concerned has lodged an appeal to the board and that the matter is being considered by the board's appeals officer at present. The appeals officer's decision will be conveyed to the person concerned.
John V. Farrelly
Question:175 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons who are in receipt of the carer's allowance introduced last year in each of the health board areas and in each county; the number of extra persons who, on the introduction of the new regulations, will be eligible for the carer's allowance in 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The new carer's allowance scheme, which replaces the prescribed relative allowance, involves a substantial increase, from £28 to £45 in the rate of the allowance for carers and a widening of the categories of persons in respect of whom an allowance can be paid. It is estimated that in the region of 8,000 people will qualify for payment as carers under the new scheme. These will include a large proportion of the 1,700 people in respect of whom a prescribed relative allowance is currently being paid. They will qualify for the new allowance, at the increased rate of payment. Persons currently in receipt of prescribed relative allowance who do not qualify for the new allowance will retain their existing entitlement.
A breakdown by county and health board area of prescribed relative allowances in payment is shown in the table which is being circulated in the Official Report.
Prescribed Relative Allowances in Payment.
|
Eastern Health Board |
|
|
Dublin |
94 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
|
Wicklow |
17 |
|
Midland Health Board |
|
|
Laois |
25 |
|
Offaly |
17 |
|
Longford |
36 |
|
Westmeath |
53 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
|
|
Limerick |
58 |
|
Clare |
105 |
|
Tipperary(includes all Tipperary cases) |
48 |
|
North Eastern Health Board |
|
|
Cavan |
93 |
|
Louth |
14 |
|
Meath |
29 |
|
Monaghan |
65 |
|
North Western Health Board |
|
|
Donegal |
107 |
|
Leitrim |
63 |
|
Sligo |
68 |
|
South Eastern Health Board |
|
|
Carlow |
14 |
|
Kilkenny |
23 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
|
Wexford |
26 |
|
Southern Health Board |
|
|
Cork |
124 |
|
Kerry |
100 |
|
Western Health Board |
|
|
Galway |
206 |
|
Mayo |
187 |
|
Roscommon |
104 |
County Tipperary is split between the Mid-Western and South Eastern Health Boards. As Department of Social Welfare records do not show the health board area in which clients live, all Tipperary cases were included with the MidWestern Health board cases for the purpose of this table.