Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 3

Written Answers. - Entitlement Review.

Richard Bruton

Question:

58 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the recent changes he has made to relax some of the cutbacks in entitlements that took place during 1992; and the other schemes which he is reviewing to assess the impact the cutbacks are causing.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

A number of measures were introduced in 1992 with a view to making resources available for the improvements in social welfare services last year, which included a 4 per cent increase in weekly rates of payment and special increases in the lowest rates of payment. The measures also sought to achieve better targeting of social welfare resources and, in some cases, remove certain anomalies that had existed for some ime.

One of the changes involved the introduction of a new qualifying condition for treatment benefits which required claimants to have worked and paid PRSI contributions for at least 13 weeks in a recent tax year. This measure was subsequently reviewed to ensure that persons unable to work because of a long term illness or incapacity were not adversely affected. As a result, the regulations were amended last December to exempt persons in receipt of invalidity pension or long term disability benefit from this particular qualifying condition.

A further measure taken in 1992 concerned the issue of guidelines to health boards regarding the making of certain payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The purpose was to achieve a greater degree of consistency across all health boards. In issuing the guidelines, it was not intended to remove or curtail the basic discretion which health boards have to make such payments and this matter was subseqently clarified to ensure that the needs of those who rely on such payments in time of exceptional need are met.

I am at present reviewing the measures introduced last year and any changes considered necessary in the light of that review will be provided for in the context of the budget.