Tony Gregory
Question:249 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give his response to the request from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for an extension of the free electricity allowance scheme.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
I am aware of the circumstances of the person concerned who is seeking the extension of the Free Electricity Allowance Scheme to cover night storage heating systems so as to allow unused Free Electricity Allowance units during the day to be offset against night storage units.
Discussions have taken place between my Department and the ESB on the question of allowing night storage users to offset some of their free electricity units against their night-rate accounts. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in this regard very soon.
Gay Mitchell
Question:250 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a detailed favourable reply regarding mortgage subsidy in view of the circumstances of a case (details supplied) as raised in an adjournment debate of 18 November 1993, by Deputy Mr. G. Mitchell and responded to by the Minister of State at his Department.
Two cases were raised by the Deputy on this Adjournment Debate,
In the first case, which involves a male applicant, the person in question applied in March 1993 to purchase a house under the shared ownership scheme operated by Dublin Corporation. In May 1993, this person became unemployed and commenced receipt of unemployment assistance from 21 May. The sale of the house was closed on 28 June, 1993 when the applicant obtained a mortgage of £21,500.
In the second case, which involves a female applicant, the person in question applied for a mortgage supplement in June 1993, in respect of a house which she had jointly purchased with her partner. Mortgage approval was received from their building society for £27,900 on 5 February, 1993 when the applicant and her partner were in receipt of unemployment payments.
The Eastern Health Board refused payment of mortgage supplements on the grounds that the persons in question were not in a position to meet the repayments when they entered into the financial commitment. Both cases were appealed; however, the appeal officer in the Eastern Health Board upheld the decision of the board in each case.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance legislation the Minister for Social Welfare has no function in relation to the determination of entitlement to an allowance or the amount of any such allowance. These are matters for decision by the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Board. My Department has been in contact with the Eastern Health Board in relation to both cases; however, the board has advised my Department that they are not aware of any new facts which would warrant a re-examination of their original decisions.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:251 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many firms who are interested in the back to work scheme have not been informed of the details of the scheme and are not on the register for the scheme.
The back to work allowance scheme was introduced in late September 1993. It encourages the creation of new job opportunities for both the unemployed and lone parents. It enables them to retain a proportion of their entitlements in addition to their secondary benefits for two years while engaged in paid employment or self-employment.
The response to this pilot scheme has been positive with over 3,000 inquiries received from employers, the unemployed and lone parents. Almost 700 new jobs have already been approved as a result of the scheme. Some 400 people, who were formerly unemployed or lone parents, are now receiving an average weekly payment of £76 under the scheme in addition to their earnings from employment or self employment.
The scheme was extensively advertised in September and October 1993 on national radio and in the main daily and weekly papers. A further extensive advertising campaign is planned for February with the emphasis on local newspapers and freesheets and on local radio. Two fact sheets giving details of the scheme are available at all social welfare local offices — one of these fact sheets is specially designed for employer registration purposes.
Posters displayed at social welfare local offices, community information centres and many other locations frequented by the public also bring the scheme to attention. Information on the scheme has already been issued to over 2,500 employers and it is planned to avail of any future opportunities to increase employer awareness.
The job facilitators at my Department's local offices together with their regional co-ordinators will continue to promote the scheme vigorously at local level throughout the country.
I am satisfied that these measures will ensure that the scheme receives maximum publicity. Employers and people who may be eligible for the back to work allowance are being made fully aware of its potential for job creation.