Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jack Wall

Question:

266 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his plans to extend the limits of payments that a dependant spouse can earn if the spouse is in receipt of his Departments entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29496/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

Regulations currently provide for the tapered withdrawal of the qualified adult allowance or QAA for claimants of certain welfare payments where the spouse or partner of the claimant is earning between £70, 88.88 and £145, 184.11 per week. The level of qualified adult allowance varies from one payment to another. So, in order to phase out the payment over the same income range for all payments, the withdrawal rates vary with the level of qualified adult allowance. The QAA is withdrawn when the spouse or partner's weekly income exceeds £145, 184.11.

Since this Government came into office, a number of changes to the tapered arrangements have been introduced with a view to ensuring that the impact of increases in earnings are not negated for families where the spouse is the sole earner and is in low paid employment. First, the range of income over which the QAA is withdrawn has been progressively extended.

Second, provision was made for the deferral of the loss of half the child dependant allowance until the earnings of the spouse exceed the upper bound of the income range and this year I provided for substantial increases in the qualified adult rates. The question of further extending the QAA income range will be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to comment at this stage on potential budget items.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

267 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the free telephone rental allowance to pensioners with mobile phones. [29511/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

The telephone allowance scheme administered by my Department covers line and instrument rental and calls to the value of £1.90, 2.41 in each two-monthly billing period. The scheme will benefit some 224,000 people this year at an estimated cost of £44.2 million, 56.12 million. The technical and business issues involved in the extension of coverage under the telephone allowance scheme to mobile phones and to telephone services from providers other than Eircom, both for the Department and for participating companies are being examined by my Department.