Vol. 440 No. 4
105 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will continue paying child dependant allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5, for the remaining weeks up to the end of the course of education being pursued by the dependant child.
Social welfare legislation provides for the payment of increases in respect of child dependants to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Such increases are normally payable in respect of each dependant child up to age 18. However, in the case of child dependants who continue in full-time education, the legislation specifies that payment of the allowance may be continued until the child reaches 21 years of age. This special extension of the age limit from 18 years was introduced by me in 1989 for lone parents and certain other groups and is now the standard upper age limit for payment of child dependant allowance across all long term social welfare schemes.
The person concerned was in receipt of a lone parent's allowance at the reduced rate of £63 per week inclusive of child dependant allowance increases in respect of two of her children who were in full-time education. However, when one of the children reached age 21 in February 1994, the allowance payable to her for that child had to be discontinued. Accordingly, her lone parent's allowance was reduced to £42.10 per week with effect from 17 February 1994.
The legislation does not allow my Department to extend payment of the allowance beyond the upper age limit in any particular case. Any proposal to extend payment of child dependant allowances beyond age 21 would have significant budgetary implications.
If the person concerned is experiencing particular difficulties she should apply to the community welfare officer at her nearest health centre for additional support through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
106 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people in County Sligo and County Leitrim, who are receiving non-contributory old age pensions and the breakdown between men and women.
On 31 December 1993, there were 3,041 people in receipt of non-contributory old age pensions in County Sligo and 1,992 in County Leitrim. A breakdown of recipients by sex is not available on a county basis.
However, nationally on the same date, 63,568 (57 per cent) of non-contributory old age pensions were received by women and 47,443 (43 per cent) were received by men.
107 Mr. S. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who became unemployed as a result of a company closure and the apparent non-payment of her PRSI contributions to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was employed up to 23 December 1993. On termination of her employment she applied for unemployment benefit on 24 December 1993.
To qualify for payment of unemployment benefit a person must have at least 39 contributions either paid at the appropriate rate or credited in the relevant governing contribution year which in this claimant's case is the year from 6 April 1991 to 5 April 1992.
