Tony Gregory
Question:59 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the appeal for exceptional needs payment on behalf of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the person in question appealed the refusal of an exceptional need payment. The board's appeals officer requested further information on the case which, I understand, has now been furnished and a decision will be made shortly.
Ivor Callely
Question:61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the services and benefits of the social welfare system which accommodate the special needs of persons with HIV/AIDS; the proposals, if any, he has to further improve the services and benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The schemes and services administered by my Department are available to people with HIV-AIDS subject to their satisfying the usual contribution and other conditions relevant to the schemes. In that connection, I should mention that in recognition of the special needs and extra financial demands made on people with HIV-AIDS, provision was made in the Social Welfare Act, 1991, to exempt for means test purposes any income derived from the Haemophilia HIV Trust Fund established by the Government.
The question of any further relaxation of qualifying conditions for access to social welfare schemes would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Ivor Callely
Question:62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the mechanism that is in place to make financial provision for social welfare payments for the life of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Social welfare payments are financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. Under the relevant legislation social insurance payments are made from the social insurance fund which comprises: contributions from employers, employees, self-employed and voluntary contributors and payments out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. These payments cover the amount by which the income of the fund in any financial year is less than its expenditure. All other social welfare payments are financed out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Estimates of the amounts due to be provided by the Oireachtas on the above basis are included in the Estimates for the Department which are presented to the Dáil each year.