Vol. 551 No. 4
176 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a reduction in disability allowance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare following the redistribution of patients from Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis; the reason there has been a reduction in their allowance; and if he will consult with the Department of Health and Children regarding this matter. [10897/02]
The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 22 January 2002. He was paid supplementary welfare allowance pending determination of his claim. As prescribed in legislation, disability allowance is not payable to a person who is resident in full time residential or institutional care, where the funding of that person's care and maintenance is met by a health board. The person concerned was not in receipt of disability allowance previously and in the new facility care and maintenance is being fully provided by the health board. Accordingly, the person concerned is not entitled to disability allowance. He was notified of this decision and of his right of appeal to the social welfare appeals office.
177 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when the oral hearing will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 given that her claim has been outstanding since October 2001; the reasons given by the medical assessor for turning down this person; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person is unable to work but has not been able to source a standard welfare payment since her accident in November 1998; if he will review procedures in his Department for cases such as these where this person's predicament straddles several different sections of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10902/02]
The person concerned, who suffered an injury in the course of her employment, was paid injury benefit from November 1998 to May 1999 and disability benefit to May 2000 when she was found capable of work. She is also in receipt of disablement pension at the 20% disablement rate arising from loss of faculty due to the accident. She applied for unemployability supplement on 22 November 2001 and was disallowed on the grounds that she was not permanently incapable of work. In the context of her appeal against that decision she was examined by a medical assessor of my Department on 18 February 2002 who also considered that she was not permanently incapable of work. Her case has been considered by an appeals officer who has decided that an oral hearing of the appeal is necessary. This will be arranged as soon as possible. She is also currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at the rate of €86.46 per week.
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.
178 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2 can avail of another peak-hour free travel pass in view of the fact that this person needs this for hospital appointments. [10903/02]
Under the free travel scheme peak time access restrictions apply on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann provincial city services in Cork and Limerick. The restrictions arise because of pressure on bus capacity at peak commuter times. There are no time restrictions on DART or other rail services.
My Department, in consultation with CIE, has arranged in a small number of exceptional cases to issue a temporary unrestricted pass for a period of up to six months to facilitate unavoidable hospital appointments and to enable the passholder to re-arrange appointments outside of the peak hours. This arrangement cannot be done on a continuing basis.
The person concerned was issued with an unrestricted pass in October 2001 and this will expire on 19 April 2002. He is advised to re-arrange his hospital appointments now to enable him to travel outside peak times after the pass expiry date.
