Vol. 406 No. 4
107 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost of extending the free travel entitlement to widows under 66 years of age who would qualify on disability grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The free travel scheme applies to all permanent residents of the State aged 66 years and over, including widow pensioners, blind people aged 18 years and over, and people receiving social welfare type payments because they are permanently incapacitated. Widow pensioners under 66 are not entitled to free travel.
108 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) an unemployment assistance claimant (details supplied) in County Wexford has been assessed with means of £9 per week derived from board and lodgings provided by his parents, (b) the value of this board and lodgings has been determined by reference to the parents' income and (c) the income of this claimant's parents, who are in their eighties, consists of a United Kingdom retirement pension of £45.91 per week and an Irish old age pension at the reduced rate of £62.50; his views on whether pensions are payable at a rate which enables the recipients to subsidise the maintenance of adult children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The purpose of assessing the value of board and lodging is to achieve a degree of equity between those claimants who have this benefit and those who do not, and between people living in better off circumstances and those in poorer circumstances. The method of assessment is designed to take account of the general standard of living in the household by reference to the parents' income and the number of non-earning residents.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 1 February 1991 and following investigation, a deciding officer assessed his means at £8.30 per week. The means are derived from the value of board and lodgings in his parents' home. This assessment leaves him entitled to payment at the weekly rate of £36.70.
He can, if he wishes, appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals officer.
109 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will award a free fuel allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The national fuel scheme is intended to assist households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.
The person concerned lives with his parents who are on pension. Because of the level of household income over and above social welfare and health board payments in this case, the household does not qualify for a fuel allowance.
I understand, however, that in view of the special circumstances of the case the board will consider making an exceptional needs payment towards heating costs and an application form is being issued to the person concerned for this purpose.
110 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be credited to the account of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A free telephone rental allowance was awarded to the person concerned with effect from 15 February 1991 — the date of installation of his telephone.
Telecom Éireann are being notified of his entitlement to the allowance and this will be credited to his account shortly.
111 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal will be heard in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Longford who was refused unemployment assistance.
Further inquiries by the social welfare officer were necessary in connection with this appeal. These have now been completed and the case has been referred to the social welfare appeals office. It will be decided as soon as possible and the person concerned will be informed of the result.
112 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the numbers in receipt of the following benefits in County Louth over the past five years, (a) disability benefit and (b) invalidity pension.
The information requested by the Deputy is given below. The trend in recipients of sickness benefit in County Louth reflects an equivalent trend nationally.
|
Year |
Disability Benefit |
Invalidity Pension |
|
1986 |
4,177 |
1,022 |
|
1987 |
3,330 |
1,160 |
|
1988 |
2,900 |
1,190 |
|
1989 |
2,500 |
1,260 |
|
1990* |
2,320 |
1,420 |
113 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of unemployed males and females in the Drogheda and Dundalk areas of County Louth for the past five years in the following categories (1) unemployment benefit and (2) unemployment assistance, both long term and short term.
The information requested by the Deputy is given below. The number of unemployment assistance receipients in Drogheda and Dundalk who are long term or short term recipients is not available. However, approximately 80 per cent of unemployment assistance recipients generally are long term recipients.
Persons on Unemployment Benefit and Unemployment Assistance in Drogheda and Dundalk, December 1986 to December 1990.
|
Drogheda |
Dundalk |
|||
|
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
|
|
1986 |
||||
|
unemployment benefit |
984 |
615 |
1,178 |
700 |
|
unemployment assistance |
1,801 |
389 |
1,837 |
426 |
|
2,785 |
1,004 |
3,015 |
1,126 |
|
|
1987 |
||||
|
unemployment benefit |
905 |
652 |
916 |
647 |
|
unemployment assistance |
1,827 |
431 |
1,964 |
477 |
|
2,732 |
1,083 |
2,880 |
1,124 |
|
|
1988 |
||||
|
unemployment benefit |
628 |
554 |
672 |
421 |
|
unemployment assistance |
1,867 |
542 |
1,918 |
514 |
|
2,495 |
1,096 |
2,590 |
953 |
|
|
1989 |
||||
|
unemployment benefit |
528 |
472 |
556 |
417 |
|
unemployment assistance |
1,791 |
571 |
1,984 |
537 |
|
2,319 |
1,043 |
2,540 |
954 |
|
|
1990 |
||||
|
unemployment benefit |
553 |
557 |
487 |
453 |
|
unemployment assistance |
1,873 |
666 |
2,112 |
604 |
|
2,426 |
1,223 |
2,599 |
1,057 |
114 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the current position regarding an old age noncontributory pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The circumstances of the person concerned have been investigated on several occasions by my Department. Following the most recent investigation, it was decided on 4 March 1991 that he is not entitled to an increase in pension as his means have not changed.
The person concerned continues to be assessed with the capital gain from the sale of his milk quota, having failed on repeated requests to supply satisfactory evidence as to its disposal. Until otherwise verified, the capital has to be taken into account in assessing his means for pension purposes.
