Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Social Welfare Matter.

Mr. Sheehan

I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise this very important matter with the Minister for Social Welfare in the Dáil tonight. I would like to ask him to explain the serious anomaly which exists under the present arrangements operated by his Department where the recipients of long term disability benefit are debarred from benefiting from the dependant allowance in respect of members of their family who have attained the age of 18 years and who are still attending second or third level education institutions. Recipients of all other pensions from the Department of Social Welfare are granted this allowance provided their dependants are still attending education institutions up to the age of 21 years.

While the number of cases involved would not be great, in rectifying this anomaly we would be setting the record straight and ensuring that all those in receipt of social welfare benefits and pensions are treated equally and, in particular, that those in receipt of long term disability benefit are not discriminated against.

A few minutes ago I listened to the Minister's response to Deputy Browne who raised a similar matter but pious words will butter no bread. What is needed is immediate action to rectify this anomaly which is creating severe hardship for the unfortunate recipients of long term unemployment benefit. It is hard enough to rear a family and to pay for second and third level education, and the Department are dragging their feet as far as this very small request is concern. I ask the Minister to rectify the situation if at all possible.

Mr. Daly

Up to 1989 only widow pensioners and people on deserted wife's payments and other lone parents with children could receive an increase for children over 18 years. In those cases increases continued to be payable up to the age of 21 years in respect of children in full-time education. In all other cases, including pensions, child dependent increases ceased at 18 years of age.

In 1989, and over the following two years, the Government progressively raised the age limit in respect of children of recipients of other pensions and long term social assistance payments. As a result, from last July, increases for dependent children in full-time education are payable up to age 21 in the case of all pensioners and those on long term social assistance schemes generally. However, increases in respect of children of recipients of short term payments continue to be payable up to the age of 18 years only. Disability benefit is essentially a short term payment in respect of temporary incapacity for work. Deputy Sheehan referred to recipients of long term disability benefit. It is open to any person who has been on disability benefit for a year or more to apply for invalidity pension.

Mr. Sheehan

What about a person who has been on disability benefit for three years?

Mr. Daly

It is open to any person who has been on disability benefit for a year or more to apply for invalidity pension, which is payable to persons who have been incapacitated for at least one year and who are likely to be incapacitated for a further year.

Mr. Sheehan

The person to whom I referred had to take early retirement.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let us hear the Minister without interruption.

Mr. Daly

The invalidity pension is payable at a higher rate than disability benefit, and increases in respect of dependent children in full-time education are payable up to the age of 21 years. Since 1987 the number of recipients of invalidity pension has risen by almost 8,000 or 27 per cent.

The question of paying increases in respect of dependent children over the age of 18 years to recipients of short term benefits, including disability benefit, would have major financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.

Deputy Sheehan seems to have a particular case in mind and if he gives me details I will deal with the matter. I will not express pious hopes here but I will offer sound advice. It appears that the case which Deputy Sheehan has in mind is one of a person who should be on invalidity pension instead of a disability pension. If he was in receipt of this pension he would qualify for the allowance to which Deputy Sheehan referred. I take the point which Deputy Sheehan made and I will examine the matter fully.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.5 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 27 November 1991.