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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

869 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals he has to increase the child dependant payment to social welfare recipients who have children in full-time third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2437/01]

The employment disincentive problems associated with child dependant allowances were highlighted particularly in the report of the expert group on the Integration of tax and social welfare. Unlike CDAs, child benefit does not contribute to poverty traps or work disincentives, as it is a universal payment which is not subject to a means test. The policy direction followed by successive Governments since 1994 has been, therefore, to concentrate resources for child income support on child benefit, rather than increasing child dependant allowances, thus ensuring that the supports provided by the State are more neutral vis-à-vis the employment status of the parent(s).

This policy was given new impetus in this year's budget. The increases I announced in Budget 2001 constitute a full-year investment of £330 million in the child benefit scheme. Most notably, this is only the first of three years of increases which will see investment in the payment rise by £1 billion by 2003, that is, almost a three fold increase. This will mean that by 2002, we will have exceeded the PPF commitment to move towards child benefit rates of £100 per month for third and subsequent children.

In view of this substantial shift away from CDAs and towards child benefit, I have no plans to increase CDAs for the group referred to by the Deputy, or indeed to CDAs generally.

However, the Deputy may be aware that currently, where a parent is receiving a pension or other long-term payment from my Department, CDAs are paid up to age 22 where the young person remains in full-time education. In the case of short-term payments, CDAs are only paid up to the age of 18. There is a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to extend child dependant allowances to all social welfare recipients where the child is under 22 and in full-time education in the lifetime of the programme. This Government intends to fulfil that commitment.

Michael Creed

Question:

870 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not entitled to the maximum amount of old age non-contributory pension. [30418/00].

The person concerned applied for an old age non-contributory pension in January 2000. His application was refused as his weekly means of £106.76 exceed the current statutory limit of £85.00. His means were derived from income from a holding and the weekly value of capital under the legislation then applicable.

The means of the person concerned were reviewed in the light of significant improvements affecting the assessment of capital which came into effect on 13 October 2000. His means, from that date, have been assessed at £85.42 a week entitling him to a pension of £5.50 per week. In addition he receives a living alone allowance of £6.00 and fuel allowance of £5.00 per week. Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Michael Creed

Question:

871 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if elderly persons in receipt of non-contributory pensions may, without affecting their pension entitlements, avail themselves of the provision in the Budget 2001 whereby persons can rent out a room in their principal residence and earn income of up to £6,000 per annum from this source. [30419/00]

Provision already exists in social welfare legislation to cater for situations where an old age pensioner rents out a room in their home. For the purposes of assessing means for the old age non-contributory and widow(er)'s non-contributory pensions, no assessment is made of any money received in respect of rent from a person who lives with the pensioner where, but for that person, the pensioner would reside alone.

This provision applies in the case of old age non-contributory pensions from 1997, and in the case of widow(er)'s non-contributory pensions from 1998.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

872 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will expediate a medical appeal hearing for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will ensure that replies to appellants inform them fully about the situation regarding their case. [30450/00]

Nora Owen

Question:

902 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a decision will be made regarding an application by a person (details supplied) to be seen by a specialist; and if he will make a statement on that matter. [1617/01].

Question:

905 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will report on the efforts of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin over the past eighteen years to have an occupational injuries disablement benefit payment resolved; if he will arrange for an independent opinion to be secured in this regard, to reach agreement with the applicant or his legal representative with regard to the specialist in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1689/01]

I propose to take Question Nos. 872, 902 and 905 together.

An insured person who is injured at work or who contracts a prescribed occupational disease may be entitled to benefits under the occupational injuries scheme. One of these is disablement benefit in respect of which claimants must be examined by a medical assessor of my Department to determine the degree of disablement that has resulted from the occupational injury or disease.

In this case the person has been in receipt of disablement benefit following occupational accidents sustained in 1976 and 1981. Up to 1989 there were a number of reviews of his medical condition and in 1988 he was awarded a pension at the 30% rate for life.

In March 1998 the person concerned sought a review of the assessed percentage loss of faculty on the grounds that his medical condition had worsened.

The case was re-examined and the chief medical adviser, following which it was decided that the assessment of 30% loss of faculty was the appropriate assessment.

An appeal was lodged against this decision and an oral hearing took place in May 2000. Following the hearing the appeals officer requested that an examination by an independent specialist consultant be arranged.

An appointment has now been made and the person concerned has been notified.

It is the practice of the social welfare appeals officer to advise appellants on the progress of their appeal from the initial acknowledgement of receipt of the appeal through to the notification of the outcome. In the case in question, where a final determination was not possible without further medical evidence, the person's legal representative was fully apprised of the position by the social welfare appeals office.

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