Vol. 455 No. 8
323 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has been refused social welfare entitlements despite strong circumstantial evidence to underpin the case put forward. [13255/95]
Currently one of the qualifying conditions for receipt of Deserted Wife's Benefit is that desertion must be proven to the satisfaction of a Deciding Officer of my Department. For this, a deserting spouse either must have left of his own volition or his conduct must have been such that his wife was justified in leaving him.
The person concerned applied for Deserted Wife's Benefit in May 1995 and a decision on her entitlement has not yet been made. The delay in determining entitlement in this instance results from the need to obtain additional evidence relating to the circumstances of the break-up of her marriage. The evidence submitted to date has been insufficient to establish that desertion occurred. The nature of the evidence which she is being asked to furnish was explained to her over the telephone on 31 August 1995.
When a response to this request is received the position will be reviewed and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
