Vol. 557 No. 5
232 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 554 of 5 November 2002 and Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 12 November 2002, the largest exceptional needs payment for maternity clothing hospital requisites, equipment and clothing for baby and so on made in 2002; the average level of such payment made in 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22730/02]
Detailed information relating to exceptional needs payments issued under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is only available from June 2002.
An examination of the data held has shown that the largest single payment in respect of the expenses referred to by the Deputy was €1,270. The average payment was €135.63.
233 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties dancers currently experience claiming unemployment benefit; the steps she plans to take to alleviate these difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22731/02]
234 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on whether dance is a profession and that professionals in this field must be available for training and auditions, and that by taking daily training and attending auditions they are actively seeking work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22732/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
Social welfare legislation provides that, in order to be entitled to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance, a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. A person who fails to satisfy these conditions on an on-going basis is not entitled to an unemployment payment. It is accepted that periods of unemployment are a normal feature of the dancing and other artistic professions and people in those professions can qualify for payment when they are out of work.
Where a person is seeking work in his or her usual employment, he or she would normally satisfy the conditions for receipt of payment, provided there is a reasonable prospect of securing work of that nature. It is accepted that people engaged in a profession such as dancing and seeking employment in that profession would be required to train on an ongoing basis for that purpose. In situations, however, where it is clear that there is no employment available in a specialised field within a reasonable period of time, the unemployed person would be expected to broaden his or her search to include other types of employment. The applications of these conditions is the same for members of the artistic professions as for other claimants for unemployment payments.
Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision to refuse him or her an employment payment, he or she may appeal the decision to the social welfare appeals office.
235 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will examine the entitlements of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [22969/02]
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment benefit since 30 October 2002 at the weekly rate of €118.80.
As she has attained retirement pension age – 65 years – an application form has issued to her for completion. On receipt of the completed form, her entitlement to retirement pension will be examined by a deciding officer and she will be notified of the position.
