Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 1

Written Answers. - Health Benefits.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

30 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the extension of the dependant allowance payable to students in third level education beyond the 21-year-old age limit in view of the considerable financial hardship that this limit poses on recipients of long-term health board payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4645/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Disabled person's maintenance allowance (DPMA) is the primary income support scheme operated by my Department for people who, because of their disability, cannot work and are not in a position to maintain themselves in the community. Under the current disabled person's maintenance allowance regulations a child dependant means a person under the age of 18 years, or in the case of a person receiving full-time instruction at any university, college, school or other educational establishment, under the age of 21 years who normally resides with, and is being wholly or mainly maintained by the disabled person's maintenance allowance recipient.

I am aware that the Department of Social Welfare has increased the age limit for a child dependent of a long-term social welfare recipient up to age 22 where the dependent is in full-time education. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, responsibility for the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme is in the process of being transferred to the Department of Social Welfare. The Department of Social Welfare took over responsibility for the funding of disabled person's maintenance allowance on 1 August 1995 and it is expected that responsibility for the administration of disabled person's maintenance allowance will transfer to the Department of Social Welfare in mid-1996. I have no plans to change the existing disabled person's maintenance allowance regulations pending this transfer but I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.