Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Policy.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

117 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if policy in relation to Eastern Health Board supplementary welfare assistance to persons on FÁS courses has been changed so as to ignore FÁS payments paid to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for the purpose of calculating supplementary welfare entitlement.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

From April 1994, the social employment scheme, SES; the community employment development programme, CEDP; and the teamwork scheme were replaced by a new FÁS programme called community employment. Prior to the introduction of the community employment programme, participants in a social employment scheme could receive a rent or mortgage allowance under the supplementary welfare allowance, SWA; however, all the person's income was assessable. This could result in loss of supplement on the basis of the person's means.

Under the new community employment programme participants are entitled to receive secondary benefits and the higher rates of payment under the programme will not affect their entitlement.

It is understood from the Eastern Health Board which is responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the Dublin area, that the person concerned went on to a social employment scheme in October 1993 and mortgage supplementation ceased because of the additional income from participation in that scheme. I have asked the Eastern Health Board to review the applicant's entitlement to a mortgage interest supplement under the conditions applying to the new community employment programme and to advise the applicant of the outcome as soon as possible.