Michael Ring
Question:497 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has received arrears of blind welfare allowance. [12077/03]
Written Answers. - Health Board Allowances.
The assessment of entitlement to and payment of the blind welfare allowance in any individual case is a matter for the relevant health board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.
Michael Ring
Question:498 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding has been provided to pay arrears of the blind welfare allowance scheme to those people who were receiving a lesser payment than the amount they were entitled to; and if these people have been awarded the amounts due to them, in particular people in the Western Health Board region. [12078/03]
The Department of Health and Children has received from the health boards an estimation of the cost of implementing the revised methodology of calculating blind welfare allowance. There are no funds available this year to meet the costs of implementing this matter. It is my intention to examine this matter in the context of the estimates for 2004.