Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2004
382 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the procedures which are in place for the purpose of re-establishing residency of social welfare applicants when a community welfare officer has revoked that residency; her views on the cases of persons (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16250/04]
View answerThe North Eastern Health Board was contacted regarding the cases raised by the Deputy. The board has advised that, as part of a periodic review of rent supplements, the community welfare officer visited a number of addresses in the area to verify that people were actually residing at the address in respect of which they had claimed rent supplement. In the course of a review of claims, several attempts were made to contact the persons concerned at their stated addresses in order to verify their continued entitlement to payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. These attempts were made over several days and at different times of the day. Having failed to make contact with the persons concerned payment of basic supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement was suspended pending further investigation of the circumstances.
The board has further advised that the review of the cases in question is ongoing and that the persons concerned will be required to satisfy the board that they reside at the addresses in respect of which they are claiming rent supplement before a determination as to whether or not the payments are to be reinstated is made.
