Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
531.
Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 2 October 2003 and the reply thereto, the nature of the evidence that the person did not supply since they provided documentary evidence to prove their endeavours to seek alternative employment; if this documentation was considered and was deemed to be lacking or insufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22894/03]
Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan): The health board, which administers the supplementary welfare allowance scheme on behalf of my Department, terminated payment of basic supplementary welfare allowance to the person in question on the ground that, in the opinion of the board, is capable of employment but had not made reasonable efforts to secure it.
I am advised by the board that the person presented at the local health centre last week with one letter from a company which stated that it had no vacancies. In the opinion of the board that did not constitute a reasonable effort to secure employment and accordingly it decided not to reinstate payment of supplementary welfare allowance. The board has advised the person regarding the efforts she should make to secure employment.
As stated in my earlier reply, it is a matter for the health board to determine entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance in individual cases. Neither I nor my Department has any function in deciding individual cases.