Vol. 568 No. 1
757 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 28 May, 2003 and in view of her reply, if a respite care grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15490/03]
The respite care grant is paid to carers who are in receipt of a carer's allowance and to carers who are caring for recipients of a constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is not payable with other social welfare payments such as retirement pension. It is more beneficial to the person concerned to remain on retirement pension rather than transfer to carer's allowance. Any extension of the respite care grant would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
758 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason it is necessary to inform the landlord that a claimant is in receipt of supplementary rent allowance in view of a letter to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; her views on whether this discriminates against some tenants in receipt of supplementary rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15610/03]
The day to day administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which provides for the payment of rent supplements, is the responsibility of each health board.
A health board must satisfy itself that a bona fide tenancy exists in respect of a property for which a rent supplement is sought. In this regard a health board may decide it is appropriate to obtain confirmation from a landlord of details supplied by a claimant in relation to the address, type of accommodation and the rent being charged.
It is a matter for each health board to decide on the level of documentation it requires for the purpose of verifying the tenancy.
I am satisfied the process currently used by the health boards to verify tenancies for the purpose of rent supplement is reasonable and does not discriminate against those in receipt of rent supplement.
759 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, prior to disability allowance being reduced due to a dependant becoming 18 years of age, a letter can be sent to the recipient indicating this change will be imminent unless the dependant is registered as being in full time education, in the interests of fairness and the need for people to be notified of their entitlements. [15273/03]
Persons in receipt of disability allowance may receive an increase in respect of a qualified child dependant. This payment ceases when the child reaches 18 except in certain circumstances where a child is in full time education.
Reviews of continuing entitlement to child dependant allowance are systematically undertaken by my Department. In order to determine the continued eligibility of children between the ages of 18 and 22 years who are in full time education, recipients of the allowance are requested to provide certification from the relevant educational institution.
760 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the guidelines in place in her Department in relation to the diabetic allowance provided for under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme; if this can be increased annually in view of the inflation rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15342/03]
Recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of specified medical conditions, including diabetes, and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
The amount of supplement payable depends on which of two categories of diet, for example, lower cost diet or higher cost diet, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser as well as the income of the individual and his or her dependants. Separate rates are payable in respect of child dependants under 18 years of age.
In the case of an adult on a diabetic diet, which is considered a low cost diet, the amount of diet supplement payable is €34.28 less one third of the applicant's income, one sixth in the case of a couple.
In the case of an adult on a higher cost diet, the amount of diet supplement is €44.44 less one third of the applicant's income, one sixth in the case of a couple.
In the case of a child dependant under 18 years, a diabetic diet is deemed to be a high cost diet, in which case the amount of supplement is €10.20. A low cost diet supplement for a child dependant under 18 years is €6.40.
The rates of diet supplement are reviewed on a regular basis. In addition, in assessing an applicant's income for diet supplement purposes, increases in weekly social welfare payment rates since 1996 are disregarded under current arrangements.
All aspects of the current system of diet supplements are being examined in conjunction with a review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is currently under way in my Department.
