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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Seán Haughey

Question:

228 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the amount paid in rent supplements under the supplementary welfare scheme; his views on the huge increase in amounts paid under this scheme; the efforts, if any, he is making to reduce this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12132/99]

The total amount of rent supplement paid in 1998 under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was £87.9 million. Expenditure on rent supplements has increased substantially over the last ten years. In recent years, this was mainly due to increases in rent levels rather than recipient numbers. Expenditure is expected to exceed £100 million in 1999.

An interdepartmental committee, under the aegis of the Department of Environment and Local Government, is currently examining the implications of transferring the administration of rent and mortgage interest supplements to the local authorities. It comprises representatives from the Departments of Health and Children, Social, Community and Family Affairs, and Finance as well as Environment and Local Government. I understand that the committee will report shortly. Any further development of the rent supplement scheme will be considered in the light of the findings of that report.

Michael Ring

Question:

229 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the grant scheme, if any, available for the installation of central heating particularly for those in receipt of disability and other benefits. [12167/99]

This Department has no grant scheme for the installation of central heating in houses.

The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme is administered on behalf of this Department by the health boards. Under the SWA scheme, a health board may make a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. These exceptional needs payments – ENPs – may be made to assist with minor household repairs. They are payable at the discretion of the health board taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

There is also a facility available through the SWA scheme to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs. A person who has exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity may qualify for a heating supplement. This can be paid as a weekly supplement in addition to other social welfare payments. An application for a heating supplement or an ENP may be made by contacting the community welfare officer at the local health centre.

Tony Gregory

Question:

230 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to increase the third level allowance in line with the proposed increase for FÁS trainees. [12194/99]

The back to education allowance is available to unemployed people, lone parents and people with a disability who have been in receipt of a social welfare payment for at least six months and who wish to pursue approved second or third level courses of education.

The allowance is payable at a standard weekly rate of payment which is equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevant social welfare payment. Persons in receipt of reduced rates of payment have their payments increased to the maximum rate for the duration of their course of education. In addition, a cost of education allowance of £200, from September 1999, is payable at the start of each academic year. Participants also retain entitlement to any secondary benefits they had while in receipt of their relevant social welfare payment, such as Christmas bonus, fuel allowance, etc.

The back to education allowance is payable for the full duration of the course of education, including holiday periods. It is not a means-tested scheme and, consequently, participants may work without affecting their payment. Similarly, any payments under the higher education grants scheme or in respect of ESF funded courses do not affect their weekly payment.
The back to education allowance is quite different from the FÁS training allowance and contains features which are unique to it. The allowance has been improved significantly in recent years. There are no plans at the present time to further change the condition or the rates of payment under the scheme. Any such proposals would have to be considered in a budgetary context having regard to their cost implications.
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