Dick Spring
Question:383 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his plans to increase the level of payment for child dependants. [28505/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The policy direction followed by successive Governments in recent years has been 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). Unlike child dependant allowances, 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.
In line with this policy approach, substantial additional resources have been invested in the child benefit scheme since this Government came into office. Over our first three budgets annual expenditure on child benefit increased to £575 million, 730.1 million, a rise of more than 40% on pre-election levels. Following payment in June of the significant increases in child benefit rates of £25, 31.74, and £30, 38.09, per month respectively, total expenditure on child benefit is now over £900 million, 1.143 billion, per year. I believe that investment in the child benefit scheme is still the correct approach and represents the most effective use of the resources available for child income support.
Michael Ring
Question:384 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a full old age pension payment is being made to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [28509/01]
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a maximum rate widow's contributory pension. There is no record of my Department having received an application for old age contributory pension. An application form for the latter pension has been issued and entitlement to this payment will be examined on receipt of a completed application form from the person concerned.
Michael Ring
Question:385 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if persons who are in receipt of a British non-contributory pension and a part non-contributory pension here will receive a full Christmas bonus. [28510/01]
The Christmas bonus has, since its inception, been paid as a percentage of the person's entitlement from this Department, subject, in recent years, to a minimum payment being made. The bonus this year, for the second year in a row, will be at the rate of 100% of the normal weekly payment subject to a minimum payment of £20 and will be paid during the week commencing Monday, 3 December. It is estimated that some 1.2 million people, comprising 780,000 recipients and 400,000 dependants will benefit at an estimated cost of £79.1 million. It is understood that people who are getting British retirement pension will also receive a bonus from the British authorities.
Michael Ring
Question:386 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a carer's allowance payment. [28511/01]
The person's application for carer's allowance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that, as he works a minimum of 12 hours daily on his farm, he does not satisfy the statutory condition of providing full-time care and attention to the persons in respect of whom the allowance was claimed.
His appeal against this decision to the social welfare appeals office was considered by an appeals officer who is of the opinion that an oral hearing is necessary. This has been arranged for 22 November 2001 and the person concerned was advised of the arrangements by letter on 14 November 2001.
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.
Michael Ring
Question:387 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is in receipt of a full old age pension. [28565/01]
According to the records of my Department, there is no person by that name who is in receipt of an old age pension and residing at the address quoted by the Deputy.
Seamus Healy
Question:388 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will direct his Department officials to restore disability payment benefit to persons (details supplied); and the reason the persons attending an NTDI training course have had their disability payment benefit discontinued in contravention of their exemption certificates and FÁS commitments. [28701/01]
Payment of disability benefit to the persons concerned was discontinued following examinations by medical assessors of the Department who expressed the view that they were capable of work.
Both persons have appealed the decisions to the independent social welfare appeals office and in the context of their appeals, they will be examined by another medical assessor. They will be notified when their examinations have been arranged.
As a general rule, persons in receipt of disability benefit are not permitted to do work or training of any kind. However, there is provision, in certain circumstances, to grant exemption from this general rule.
Permission, when granted, is to enable the person to undertake part-time work of a rehabilitative or therapeutic nature, or to participate in a training course to fit them for other work. Claimants who are granted an exemption are subject to the normal rules of the disability benefit scheme and, where they are found to be capable of work, they are no longer entitled to benefit.
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.