Gay Mitchell
Question:549 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the SWAHB will urgently assess the needs of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1325/05]
View answerWednesday, 26 January 2005
Questions (485, 486, 487, 488)
Written answers
The person concerned is in receipt of her full weekly social welfare entitlements. She is in receipt of one-parent family payment in respect of herself and four dependent children who reside with her, along with monthly child benefit. She is also in receipt of half-rate unemployment benefit. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure that a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income.
The Dublin and mid-Leinster regional office of the Health Service Executive, which was contacted about this case, has advised that it has assisted the person concerned in the past by way of exceptional needs payments. If she finds herself in a position whereby she has insufficient means to cater for a particular need, it is open to her to make an application for an exceptional needs payment by contacting the community welfare officer at her local health centre. If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties budgeting her weekly income or in meeting debt commitments on an ongoing basis, she should contact her nearest money advice and budgeting service office for guidance.
Michael Ring
Question:550 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for, and awarded, the carers allowance. [1476/05]
View answerThe person concerned applied for carer's allowance in respect of two persons on 8 November 2004. Following the necessary investigations her application was refused on the grounds that full-time care and attention is not required or being provided as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of the decision, the reason for it and her right to appeal on 17 January 2005. Under social welfare legislation, decisions about claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. The officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.
Michael Ring
Question:551 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the employment related conditions which the respite care grant extension, as announced in budget 2005, are subject to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1477/05]
View answerThe conditions for receipt of the extended respite care grant will be set out in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill and regulations. As I set out in my speech at budget time, certain employment related conditions will apply. As is the case with recipients of carer's allowance, a full-time carer must not be engaged in employment for more than ten hours per week. People on unemployment payments will be excluded as they are required to be available for and actively seeking full-time work. It is estimated that the improvements in the conditions applying to the respite care grant will result in an additional 9,200 full-time carers receiving the grant for the first time, giving an estimated total of almost 33,000 full-time carers receiving the respite care grant of €1,000 this year.
Bernard Allen
Question:552 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused supplementary welfare towards the purchase of a buggy and other items. [1479/05]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare staff of the Health Service Executive, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income. The southern region of the Health Service Executive was contacted about this case and has advised that the application by the person concerned for an exceptional needs payment was refused on the grounds that the level of her household income was considered to be sufficient to provide for the expenses. The determination of eligibility for exceptional needs payments is a matter for the community welfare staff of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor the Department of Social and Family Affairs have any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.