Vol. 497 No. 2
297 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will allow persons, who have a combination of unemployment and disability benefit covering the required six month period, to partake in the back to education scheme; and if, in particular, he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [24656/98]
The back-to-education allowance, BTEA, is an educational opportunities programme, mainly for unemployed persons, to enable them to participate in an approved educational course of study with a view to their return to the workforce. The scheme also applies to lone parents and was extended this year to certain people with disabilities. Unemployed persons must have been in receipt of an unemployment payment continuously for six months in order to qualify for the allowance. The scheme when originally introduced applied to people unemployed for 15 months or more and was extended over a number of years to persons unemployed for six months or more. This is a minimal requirement and there are no plans to change this.
The person concerned does not satisfy the qualifying conditions for BTEA as she does not have the required 156 days in receipt of a qualifying payment.
300 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review and reduce the age requirement of 66 years to avail of the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24714/98]
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, and to certain people with disabilities under that age who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments. The objective of the scheme is to assist older people and people with disabilities to remain active in the community.
The free schemes were originally designed to benefit mainly older people in receipt of a social welfare type payment who were living alone and required additional assistance. However, over the years, additional categories of persons have been included. It is proposed to undertake a fundamental review of the free schemes, commencing in early 1999, to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner and the Deputy's proposal to reduce the age requirement for free travel will be examined as part of this review process.
301 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the expenditure on asylum seekers, refugees and illegal immigrants by his Department for each of the years from 1990 to 1997; if he will give a breakdown of this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24715/98]
303 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the cost to date in 1998 for the provision of services and supports to asylum seekers, refugees and illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24722/98]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 301 and 303 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme provides entitlement to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Department. Payment may continue as long as the asylum seeker is resident in the State.
SWA payments are being made to approximately 3,700 households in respect of some 4,600 adults and about 1,500 children who are seeking asylum. Over 70 per cent or asylum seekers are residing in private rented accommodation and in receipt of rent supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The balance are accommodated in bed and breakfast and hostel type accommodation which is funded by local authorities.
Expenditure on supplementary welfare allowance payments for asylum seekers to date in 1998 is estimated at about £18 million. The total cost of payments to asylum seekers for 1998 is expected to be between £21 million and £25 million. The total expenditure for 1997 was approximately £12 million.
305 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has satisfied himself with the contents of the questionnaire, Looking for and Availability for Work, distributed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/98]
It is one of the statutory conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit assistance that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking suitable work. The questionnaire referred to, which is in use in one area, forms part of an assessment of a customers efforts in seeking work and determining what supports might be provided to him or her in this regard. It is designed to give the deciding officer the information he or she needs in determining a customer's entitlement. It may also lead to the customer being further interviewed before a decision is made. Every effort is made to ensure that the customer is informed of the various schemes and services available to support them in returning to work or education.
The completion of the questionnaire in appropriate cases is one of a range of methods to assist in ensuring that customers are aware of the conditions of entitlement to unemployment payments and to assist them in accessing employment and other opportunities which may be available. The Department is glad to have any comments on questionnaires of this kind and I understand that the form in question is being revised in the light of some comments which were received.
