Frank Feighan
Question:434 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [6250/10]
View answerTuesday, 9 February 2010
Questions (300, 301)
Written answers
Due to staff action currently being taken, I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Joe McHugh
Question:435 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to individuals to whom bench warrants have been issued and are still outstanding who continue to claim social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6268/10]
View answerA person who fulfils all of the statutory provisions for a given contingency based social welfare scheme is entitled to that payment for the duration of the period they continue to satisfy those requirements. In addition, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme provides support for persons who are unable to meet their needs. If entitlement to this payment was to be removed, this would mean that the welfare system would not be in a position to provide support to a person even when they were unable to meet their basic needs in a given period. Such a step would represent a major change to the underlying principles of the SWA scheme.
In cases initiated for legal proceedings by the Department reviews are carried out on a regular basis by the Department's Central Prosecution Service where there are bench warrants outstanding. Where the Department is aware that the client has a new address or has applied/re-applied for a social welfare payment, his/her address is conveyed to the local state solicitor who in turn notifies the local Garda Superintendent's Office. The execution of the bench warrant is a matter for the Gardaí.