Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

345 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Welfare further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 27 February 1997 (details supplied), if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who wishes to appeal against the decision not to allow her rent allowance in her current circumstances. [8252/97]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The individual referred to by the Deputy is currently in receipt of lone parent's allowance (LPA) of £79.70 and a FÁS allowance of £64.50 per week, giving her a total weekly income of £144.20.

FÁS training allowances are assessed as means for the purpose of determining entitlement to a rent supplement. People who participate in FÁS training courses do not retain secondary benefits, with the exception of those participating in an area allowance enterprise scheme; a community employment scheme; or a back to work allowance scheme.

The SWA scheme is administered in this case by the Midland Health Board and my Department has no function in determining individual entitlement.

The FÁS course attended by the person involved commenced on 15 January but the community welfare officer (CWO) was not advised by the individual of her changed circumstances. As a result, she was overpaid rent supplement for the first four weeks of the course, at which stage the CWO became aware of the change in her circumstances and that there was a possibility of an overpayment. On review, it was discovered that the person concerned was no longer entitled to a rent supplement and she was advised on 14 February that her combined means of £144.20 exceeded the income guidelines for the supplement.

If the person in question is dissatisfied with the decision of the community welfare officer, she may make an appeal to the appeals office, setting out her grounds for appeal.

The person was advised of her right to appeal on 14 February 1997 and was supplied with the address and telephone number of the appeals officer in the Midland Health Board. No appeal has been lodged to date.

My Department is carrying out a review of secondary benefits. The issue of people on FÁS courses retaining secondary benefits will be examined as part of that review.