Michael Ring
Question:245 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been awarded an old age contributory pension or non-contributory pension. [26028/04]
View answerWednesday, 27 October 2004
Questions (141, 142, 143)
Written answers
One of the qualifying conditions for old age contributory pension is that a person must have a minimum yearly average of 10 contributions over their working history. According to my Department's records, the person concerned has a yearly average of six contributions. On this basis, he does not qualify for the pension and he has been notified of same.
His entitlement to the means tested old age non contributory pension is currently under examination. A social welfare inspector has carried out a means assessment and the file has been forwarded to a deciding officer for necessary action. As soon as the decision is made, the person concerned will be notified of the position.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and, where appropriate, appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:246 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the saving to the Exchequer generated to date by each of the 15 social welfare cutbacks announced by his predecessor on 13 November 2003; the estimated cost of reversing each of those cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26040/04]
View answerThe measures announced in November 2003 in the context of the 2004 Estimates included changes to the back to education allowance, one parent family payment, certain child dependant allowances, changes in the conditions of entitlement to short term social insurance payments and changes in the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
It is not possible to quantify precisely the savings to-date to the Exchequer, or to the Social Insurance Fund, generated by the measures in question in that, where disallowances or reduced entitlements occur, the specific reasons for such are not recorded on payment systems in a way which facilitates production of the information requested.
While data is readily available on the numbers in receipt of all payments and the amounts of their entitlements, simple comparisons of such numbers and amounts would not reliably indicate the savings being generated by the measures. In some cases, the individuals who may have been affected by a particular measure could have availed of alternative supports.
I have already informed the House that I am carrying out a review of the measures in question to ascertain what hardship, if any, they are causing to people. That review will also address the costs in the current and future years of reversing any of the measures.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:247 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimated cost of abolishing the means test for the carers allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26041/04]
View answerThe primary objective of the carer's allowance is to provide income support to low income carers. In line with other social assistance schemes, the means test is applied to the carer's allowance so as to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need. The means test applied to the allowance has been eased significantly in the past few years, most notably with the introduction of disregards of spouses' earnings.
The cost of complete abolition of the means test has been estimated at €180 million in a full year but this is currently being reviewed taking account of CSO and departmental data. Proposals to improve supports for carers are being considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.