Máirín Quill
Question:3 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce a statutory scheme to assist needy families with regard to communion and confirmation. [6214/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Legislation governing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme allows a health board to make a single payment to meet an exceptional need including assistance with the cost of clothing. Such payments are made normally to persons in receipt of social welfare or health board payments. Health boards recognise that Confirmation and Communion times involve families in additional expense and all boards assist with such costs under this provision. Health boards decide each application on its merits having regard to the income and circumstances of the applicant. I have no plans to introduce an alternative statutory scheme at present.
There is a trend emerging whereby schools encourage children for First Holy Communion or Confirmation to wear their school uniforms. We should welcome and encourage that. However, there still appears to be need for the kind of scheme I described in the question. Is the Minister aware that sometimes families are not paid until well after the event and parents are forced to borrow money which they must pay back with interest? Can the Minister take steps to enable payments to be made well in advance of the event so that people shop around, get the best value for money and obviate the necessity to borrow from credit unions and other such lenders?
I appreciate that parents who have children for Communion or Confirmation face a particularly expensive time. I welcome any move by schools to encourage the wearing of school uniforms on these occasions. As we know, there is a lot of competition in dressing children for these events. They are important occasions for the children and for the family. If we were to introduce a statutory scheme it would have to be on a non-denominational basis. It could not be available only for Communion and Confirmation ceremonies. There are other religious denominations in society and we need to be conscious of that.
The current back to school allowances developed in an ad hoc way in much the same way as assistance for children making their first Holy Communion or Confirmation is evolving. We need to look at it carefully from a cost point of view. I would be concerned if parents who qualify for this kind of assistance do not receive it on time and have to borrow. I would be interested in hearing any cases the Deputy might have so that I could check them. There are many reasons payments might be late. It may be that parents did not apply in time, were unaware of the facility until late in the day or that, on first application, they were not entitled to it and appealed the decision. The appeals system for supplementary welfare allowance can be quite slow. I am trying to improve that area and will seek ways to prevent undue delays in future.
The Minister has given a thoughful reply. He said he is not prepared to bring in a statutory scheme and I accept that. Does he accept that there is ample scope for improving the scheme as currently administered? I will provide him with examples. Will the Department carry out an investigation into this scheme to see how improvements can be made?
I will give such an undertaking. I am in the process of seeking to review how the supplementary welfare allowance is delivered. It is an important scheme for thousands of families and individuals. It evolved over time on the basis of need and should be fundamentally reviewed and reformed. I will do that as quickly as I can.