Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

341 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; if this person is entitled to carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9937/01]

Carer's benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. The carer's benefit scheme came into operation on 26 October 2000. The principal conditions for receipt of carer's benefit are that a carer must have given up work to care for a person who is need of full time care and attention and that they satisfy certain PRSI conditions.

The entitlement of the person concerned to carer's benefit is currently being examined. Based on her previous entitlement to carer's allowance she is deemed to satisfy the full time care attention condition for receipt of this benefit. However, certain additional information is required. On receipt of this information her entitlement will be considered further and she will be notified of the outcome.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to 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.

Paul McGrath

Question:

342 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if families on low income who are in receipt of family income supplement payments can qualify for payments from the community welfare officers for confirmation expenses for their children; the qualifying conditions for such special payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9941/01]

Legislation governing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered by the health boards on behalf of my Department allows health boards to 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 payments are known as exceptional needs payments. There is no automatic entitlement to an ENP. Payment of ENPs are made at the discretion of the health boards and neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding individual cases.

ENPs are normally made to people in receipt of social welfare or health board payments. Health boards recognise that confirmation and communion times involve families in additional expense and all boards assist with such costs under this provision. Health boards decide each application on its merits having regard to the income and circumstances of the applicant.

Top
Share