Mary Flaherty
Question:146 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his commitment to extend pro rata pensions to those with mixed insurance includes the self-employed.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The necessary arrangements to enable the payment of pro rata pensions to persons with mixed insurance will be provided for in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill. The arrangements are intended to cover persons who in the course of their careers have been insured for periods at the modified rate of PRSI for public servants and for periods at PRSI rates which provide cover for retirement and/or old age contributory pensions. Accordingly, persons who have been insured for periods at the public service modified rate and for periods as self-employed contributors at the Class S rate would be covered by these arrangements.
Bernard Allen
Question:147 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons who have been awarded the carers allowance to date in Cork city.
Statistics are not maintained in such a way as to enable the information requested by the Deputy to be provided.
The total number of claims in payment nationally is approximately 3,615. This comprises some 1,765 new awards in addition to some 1,850 people who were previously in receipt of prescribed relatives allowance and who have retained that entitlement.
Richard Bruton
Question:148 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether an adoptive mother is entitled to leave similar to maternity leave during which she would get either PRSI credits, an allowance, or have the stamp paid; and his views on whether changes in this area are desirable to ease the transition for adoptive parents.
The purpose of the maternity allowance scheme, including maternity leave, is to provide a weekly benefit to a mother in the period immediately before and after childbirth. It is thus aimed at safeguarding the health of mother and child by enabling the mother to take leave from her employment during these periods. The scheme does not apply to adoptive mothers.
I am conscious of the needs of adoptive mothers and I am examining what might be done to address those needs. The Deputy will appreciate that any extension of arrangements similar to the maternity leave arrangements could have wide-ranging implications in the area of parental leave and parental allowances generally.
Michael Finucane
Question:149 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of (a) males and (b) females who were in receipt of unemployment assistance and benefit at (1) 31 January, 1990 and (2) 31 January, 1991 at the Listowel, Newcastle West, Kilmallock, Limerick, Tipperary and Mitchelstown employment exchanges.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
At January 1990
|
Exchange-Local Office |
Unemployment Benefit |
Unemployment Assistance |
||
|
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
|
|
Listowel |
215 |
148 |
1,000 |
195 |
|
Newcastle West |
490 |
204 |
956 |
301 |
|
Kilmallock |
298 |
124 |
756 |
169 |
|
Limerick |
1,140 |
1,010 |
4,170 |
1,178 |
|
Tipperary |
226 |
93 |
522 |
125 |
|
Mitchelstown |
101 |
31 |
160 |
45 |
At January 1991
|
Exchange-Local Office |
Unemployment Benefit |
Unemployment Assistance |
||
|
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
|
|
Listowel |
280 |
119 |
1,018 |
225 |
|
Newcastle West |
565 |
229 |
956 |
354 |
|
Kilmallock |
245 |
117 |
782 |
185 |
|
Limerick |
1,198 |
973 |
4,195 |
1,311 |
|
Tipperary |
211 |
89 |
604 |
152 |
|
Mitchelstown |
100 |
29 |
184 |
48 |
Tony Gregory
Question:150 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the circumstances whereby a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 was awarded a carer's allowance and then had her supplementary welfare allowance for the same amount stopped; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned applied for and was awarded carer's allowance at the maximum rate of £45.00 per week with effect from 13 December 1990.
The appropriate allowance book with payable orders commencing on 7 February 1991 has issued to her local post office for collection.
Supplementary welfare allowance is a means tested payment made on a weekly basis. Carer's allowance is also a means tested payment but it is paid by order book cashable at a post office. Payment of carer's allowance would therefore have to be assessed as means in determining the amount of supplementary welfare allowance payable. The carer's allowance of £45 was assessed as means against the person's supplementary welfare allowance and accordingly, the latter payment was withdrawn by the health board. Any supplementary payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme would not be affected.
John Fahey
Question:151 Mr. J. Fahey asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having an application for widower's pension approved for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned first applied for pension in July 1990. This claim was disallowed initially because his means as estimated exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance in October 1990. His case was reinvestigated, in the context of the appeal, and he supplied certain information which has been requested at the time of the first investigation.
The person concerned has been awarded a widower's non-contributory pension at the maximum rate of £88.30 per week, with effect from 20 July 1990, which has been increased to £93.50 per week from 27 July 1990 due to budgetary provisions.
A pension book has been issued with payable orders commencing 18 February 1991. The arrears due will issue shortly.