Bernard J. Durkan
Question:105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 11 April 1991 to 18 May 1991 at the total rate of £264.00. He was awarded an invalidity pension at the weekly rate of £54.10, also from 11 April, and a pension book was issued to him effective from 16 May 1991. Arrears of £6.50 representing the difference between the disability benefit paid and the invalidity pension rate for the period 11 April 1991 to 15 May 1991 have been issued separately.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:106 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if full entitlement to social welfare benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if butter vouchers have issued.
The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £64.10 per week. This rate includes the maximum personal payable to a person over 80 years of age — i.e. £60 per week — and a living alone allowance of £4.10 per week.
The EC free butter scheme is governed by EC regulations which restrict it to recipients of social welfare assistance-based payments. The person concerned is in receipt of a contributory pension and, therefore, she is not entitled to receive butter vouchers.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:107 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any arrears or alleviation supplement is due to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is in reciept of invalidity pension.
The person concerned is not currently entitled to any payment as an alleviation as he is in receipt of the full rate of the adult dependant allowance in respect of his wife. There are no arrears of this supplement due to him which ceased to be payable in January 1991 when his wife became an adult dependant in respect of whom an increase is now being paid.
Deductions of £3 are being made from his weekly entitlement of £89.90. The deductions relate to an overpayment which occurred prior to October 1988. The amount remaining to be recovered by deductions is £338 and deductions will continue for approximately two more years.
Michael Bell
Question:108 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and when benefit will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme on 7 November 1990 in respect of an accident at work on 2 August 1988 while employed as a member of the Garda Síochána.
To have a claim for occupational injuries benefit accepted, the claimant is required to be employed in employment which is insurable for occupational injuries benefit. Under the Social Welfare Acts, employment as a Garda Síochána was not insurable for occupational injuries benefit until 6 April 1989 when the scheme was extended to include such employment. Under the statutory provisions, the extension applies only to occupational accidents happening on or after that date. As the claim in question was in respect of an accident at work in August 1988 it could not be allowed.
A Garda who suffers an occupational accident may claim compensation under a scheme administered by the Department of Justice. It is understood that a claim under that scheme is being pursued in this case.