Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which it is proposed to recover dietary allowance without causing hardship in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31977/04]
View answerSubject to certain conditions, including a means test, diet supplements are provided for under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the health boards.
The South Western Area Health Board has advised that an overpayment of diet supplement occurred in this case owing to the failure of the person concerned to notify the board that he had commenced employment. The board has written to the person concerned to inform him of the amount of the overpayment and to seek his proposals for repayment of the sum due.
While the board is obliged to make all reasonable efforts to recoup the overpayment as quickly as possible it will have regard to the circumstances of the person concerned to ensure that no hardship occurs.
The board has also advised that it paid €1,270 as an exceptional needs payment to the person concerned in March 2004, to assist with outstanding funeral bills.
