Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Eamon Walsh

Question:

71 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that the Eastern Health Board payments that may be due to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 are paid forthwith as this person is suffering severe difficulties because of the lack of support that she is getting for her family from the health board; if he will take immediate action to ensure that this person is assisted with the interest of her mortgage which is in arrears with a building society and that this matter is dealt with urgently.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The person referred to is in receipt of disability benefit from my Department. The Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the Dublin area, has advised that the person in question has been in receipt of a mortgage supplement since September 1993. She has applied to my Department for deserted wife's benefit and her application is currently under consideration.

Eamon Walsh

Question:

72 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have arrangements made to have supplementary welfare assistance paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 as it is not appropriate for the parents of this adult to be expected to support her out of their means; and if he will have this situation rectified.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The person concerned applied for Unemployment Assistance after she had received her entitlement to Unemployment Benefit. She has not made a claim for Supplementary Welfare Allowance. She has been asked by my Department's Local Office to provide certain documentation in relation to her claim for Unemployment Assistance but to date, has not done so. Her claim will be processed by the Local Office on receipt of the relevant information.

Young people living at home who claim Unemployment Assistance are assessed with the value of the free board and lodgings which is valued by reference to parental income. This is a requirement of the legislation governing the scheme.

Willie Penrose

Question:

73 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to extend the free travel facility to widows and widowers under the age of 66; if he will give an estimate of the cost of any such extension in current year costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Free Travel Scheme is intended primarily for elderly and disabled people to help them remain active and mobile. A number of improvements have been made in the scheme in recent years as resources permitted.

The question of further extending the scheme would have financial implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context. In this regard the additional annual cost of extending the scheme to all widows and widowers would be of the order of £3.7 million.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

74 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when lone parents benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The person concerned applied to my Department for a Lone Parent's Allowance (Widowed Person) in July 1992. It is necessary to verify certain details relating to the claimant and his family (e.g. dates of birth, marital status and date of spouse's death) before a decision can be made.

Certification in this regard was not supplied with his claim. A number of requests were subsequently made to the person concerned by my Department to supply these documents. To date, none of this certification has been provided.

If the person concerned submits his marriage certificate, his claim to Lone Parent's Allowance will receive immediate attention. Verification of the other details required will be followed up at a later date.