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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2004

Thursday, 27 May 2004

Questions (214, 215, 216, 217, 218)

Michael Ring

Question:

214 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason incorrect information was given in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 19 May 2004. [15996/04]

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Written answers

On the basis of the information available to my Department, the position remains as set out in my reply to the Deputy on 19 May 2004.

While the Deputy contends that he submitted an application form for fuel allowance on behalf of the person concerned, there is no record of this in the pension services office in Sligo. As already stated, an application form for fuel allowance was received together with a cover letter from the Western Health Board and a fuel allowance has been awarded to the person concerned on foot of this. Her late husband's fuel allowance book was received separately but without any covering letter attached.

Michael Ring

Question:

215 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded disability benefit. [15997/04]

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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 16 April 2004. Entitlement to the allowance is subject to the applicant satisfying a means test and the medical eligibility criteria that apply. In this regard, a means assessment was undertaken by an investigative officer of the Department on 19 May 2004.

Arrangements have also been made to have the person concerned examined by a medical assessor of my Department. This examination is scheduled to take place on 11 June 2004. He is being notified directly of the time and place for this medical examination. His entitlement to disability allowance will be further considered in light of the medical assessor's report and he will be notified directly of the outcome.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on 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.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent assistance will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has sourced rented accommodation at Powerscourt, Newbridge, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16026/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned was refused a rent supplement on the ground that the rent being sought is considerably in excess of the board's appropriate reasonable rent limit. The person concerned has been advised that he will be required to secure more reasonably priced accommodation in order to receive a rent supplement.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16031/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that when rent supplement was initially awarded to the person concerned she was in receipt of one-parent family payment in respect of herself and two dependent children.

Since the supplement was first awarded there has been a change in the person's financial circumstances. She is now in receipt of one-parent family payment in respect of an additional child. A recent review of her rent supplement took account of the change in her circumstances and the increase of €1 per week in the minimum contribution that all recipients are required to make towards their rent. This review had the effect of reducing the amount of supplement payable by €15.20 per month, which is the equivalent of €3.50 per week. The board has confirmed that she is in receipt of the maximum amount of rent supplement payable having regard to her current circumstances.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if mortgage support is available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16079/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that it has no record of an application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned. If he wishes to make an application he should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre so that an assessment of his circumstances can be carried out to determine whether he has an entitlement to mortgage interest supplement.

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