Wednesday, 18 Sep 2013

Written Answers Nos. 568-587

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (568)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

568. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in respect of an appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37107/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 2nd September 2013 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (569)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

569. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the main measures that will be contained in new legislation to have fathers' names on birth certificates becoming compulsory for the first time; if her attention has been drawn to circumstances where a couple have separated and the mother subsequently has a child with her new partner, before the divorce comes through on her first marriage; in view of the four-year waiting period in circumstances like these if she would be mandated to put the separated husband or the father of the child down on the birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37114/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The legislation currently being drafted to amend the Civil Registration Act, 2004 will provide for the compulsory registration of father’s names on birth certificates so as to ensure, where possible, that a child has a record of their father.

In cases where a woman gives birth to a child while she is in an existing marriage or within a period of 10 months after the termination of that marriage, the husband in that marriage is presumed to be the father of the child, as provided for in Section 46 of the Status of Children Act, 1987.

At present, Section 22 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides that the husband shall not be registered as the father of the child where:

- the husband makes a statutory declaration that he is not the father of the child;

- the mother makes a statutory declaration that she has been living apart from her husband during the period of 10 months ending immediately before the birth of the child by virtue of a decree of divorce, a decree of divorce a mensa et thoro , a decree of nullity of marriage or a deed of separation;

- the mother or the father produces an order made by a court in proceedings referred to in Section 45 of the Status of Children Act, 1987 finding that the person is the father of the child.

The issues surrounding the registration of a father’s name on a birth certificate are currently under consideration in my Department as part of the draft legislation to amend the Civil Registration Act, 2004.

Social Welfare Code Reform

Questions (570)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

570. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considering introducing a welfare cap on persons or households, in a similar manner to that which has recently been introduced by the British Government. [37117/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The maximum amount of social welfare paid to any family depends on the composition of that family and the type of welfare support appropriate to that family. In this regard, it is self-evident that a family with more child dependents, for example, or with caring requirements, will receive more than a family with none and so on.

In some cases, families receive larger volumes of supplementary payments and therefore have a higher level of welfare income. This is usually because one or more family members require caring or have a disability, in which case the Department of Social Protection provides extra supports to assist the families in question.

It should be noted that, as regards people of working age receiving welfare payments, the vast majority of those on the Live Register receive only a single personal weekly payment of €188 or less and no additional benefits of any kind. Those individuals therefore have a very strong incentive to work.

In a small percentage of cases where a disincentive to work does exist, I am overseeing extensive reforms to remove such disincentives and assist people back to work and towards financial independence. For example, the Department is working with the Department of the Environment to introduce Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), to replace Rent Supplement. HAP will subsidise rent for people on welfare and in low-income employment so that they will not lose housing assistance when they move from welfare to work.

The introduction of any maximum ceiling on the amount of social welfare to be paid to an individual or family would be a matter for Government to consider in a Budgetary context.

Questions Nos. 571 and 572 answered with Question No. 551.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (573)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

573. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if Intreo offices will be provided in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37123/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An Intreo office has already been established in Arklow and is due to be operational in Bray by the end of 2013.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (574)

Clare Daly

Question:

574. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason social welfare recipients have to attend a social welfare office in addition to collecting their payment from the post office when they return from a week's holidays. [37146/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A jobseeker customer must demonstrate entitlement to payment on an ongoing basis and in order to do so is required to attend the local office for the purposes of signing on, or to complete a wider review of their on-going entitlement. Customers are directly advised of these arrangements by their local office.

It is generally not necessary for customers to present themselves at the local office after their standard holidays in order for normal payments to resume and arrears to issue. However, customers who have been approved for unpaid holiday leave outside of the standard periods may be asked to attend upon their return.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (575)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

575. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37147/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3rd September 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Community Work Initiatives

Questions (576, 577)

Pat Deering

Question:

576. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown in tabular form the financial allocation for all implementing bodies under the Tús programme since its commencement under the headings of service charges and non-service charges. [37149/13]

Pat Deering

Question:

577. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employees in tabular form per implementing body under the Tús programme since its commencement; the average administration spend per employee and the total budget for administration per implementing body. [37150/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together.

Tús is delivered at local level by local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta (in Gaeltacht areas). A standard service fee is paid by the Department to meet the additional costs of delivering Tús in each of the companies’ operational areas. This service fee is based on the number of placements the company has accepted to manage and has put in place and is designed to ensure that direct and indirect costs involved in the management and delivery of Tús are not borne by other publicly funded programmes operated by the companies. The service fee covers the costs of the company in respect of management, administration, compliance, selection, recruitment, support and training, placement, health and safety, personal protective clothing, supervision, materials/equipment/tools and related operational costs. The Department does not hold data in respect of each company’s expenditure on administration and queries in respect of this would require to be addressed to the individual implementing body.

Table 1 under provides details of the number of participants allocated to each company in 2011 and 2012 and the number of persons employed under Tús at the end of those years. The Government agreed to expand Tús from 5,000 to 7,500 participants in 2013. These changes are reflected in Table 2 under.

Table 2 below gives details of the fee paid to Implementing Bodies in 2011, 2012 and to the end of August 2013.

Table 1: Tús - Placements Allocated and Employed end year 2011 and 2012

-	Placements Allocated 2011&2012	Placements Allocated 2011&2012	Employees	Employees
Implementing Body	Participants	Supervisors	31/12/2011	31/12/2012
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd.	80	4	21	85
Ballyfermot Partnership Company	60	3	13	40
Ballyhoura Development Ltd	80	4	39	74
Ballymun Partnership	40	2	8	38
Blanchardstown Area Partnership	80	4	20	83
Bray Area Partnership	40	2	27	14
Breffni Integrated Ltd	80	4	28	76
Canal Partnership	140	7	13	124
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd.	80	4	34	66
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta	180	9	89	173
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd.	120	6	104	123
Clondalkin Partnership	80	4	27	67
Co. Wicklow Partnership	100	5	32	104
Comhar Chathair Chorcaí Teoranta	120	6	46	137
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co L:td	100	5	38	97
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.	80	4	62	85
Dodder Valley Partnership	140	7	23	140
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd	140	7	74	141
Dublin Employment Pact	0	0	48	0
Fingal Leader Partnership Company	140	7	40	118
FORUM Connemara Ltd.	40	2	21	39
Galway City Partnership	80	4	35	65
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd.	140	7	75	108
Inishowen Development Partnership	80	4	63	85
IRD Duhallow Ltd.	60	3	40	65
Laois Community and Enterprise Development Co. Ltd.	100	5	46	85
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Ltd.	60	3	42	60
Longford Community Resources	80	4	37	65
Louth LEADER Partnership	180	9	61	182
Meath Community Partnership.	100	5	38	98
Monaghan Integrated Development Ltd	80	4	50	71
North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta	80	4	44	51
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo.	80	4	46	84
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership	60	3	25	45
Northside Partnership	120	6	30	126
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd.	120	6	69	129
People Action Against Unemployment (PACT)	80	4	39	70
Rathmines Community Partnership	100	5	15	86
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Ltd.	80	4	63	83
South and East Cork Area Development	140	7	62	150
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd.	60	3	41	53
South Tipperary Development Company Ltd	120	6	85	119
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd.	80	4	62	84
Southside Partnership DLR	180	9	30	193
Tolka Area Partnership	60	3	42	40
Údarás na Gaeltachta	120	6	77	124
Waterford Area Partnership	100	5	45	95
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd.	80	4	24	81
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd.	100	5	49	102
West Limerick Resources	80	4	44	77
Westmeath Community Development Ltd.	100	5	25	104
Wexford Local Development	180	9	43	188
Totals	5,000	250	2,254	4,792

Table 1: Tús - Placements Allocated and Employed 2013

-	Placements Allocated 2013	Placements Allocated 2013	-
Implementing Body	Participants	Supervisors	Employees at 6/9/2013
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd.	120	6	127
Ballyfermot Partnership Company	80	4	82
Ballyhoura Development Ltd	100	5	117
Ballymun Partnership	40	2	26
Blanchardstown Area Partnership	120	6	80
Bray Area Partnership	40	2	26
Breffni Integrated Ltd	120	6	89
Canal Communities Partnership*	220	11	135
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd.	120	6	104
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta	280	14	256
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd.	180	9	165
Co. Wicklow Partnership	160	8	173
Comhar Chathair Chorcaí Teoranta	180	9	156
County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Company Ltd	140	7	115
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.	120	6	114
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd	220	11	230
Fingal Leader Partnership Company	220	11	175
FORUM Connemara Ltd.	60	3	51
Galway City Partnership	120	6	104
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd.	200	10	216
Inishowen Development Partnership	120	6	123
IRD Duhallow Ltd.	100	5	110
Laois Community and Enterprise Development Co. Ltd.	140	7	113
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Ltd.	80	4	84
Longford Community Resources	100	5	79
Louth LEADER Partnership	220	11	238
Meath Community Partnership.	240	12	207
Monaghan Integrated Development Ltd	100	5	106
North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta	120	6	95
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo.	100	5	96
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership	100	5	107
Northside Partnership	160	8	131
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd.	160	8	179
People Action Against Unemployment (PACT)	120	6	124
Rathmines Community Partnership	160	8	98
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Ltd.	120	6	126
South and East Cork Area Development	220	11	233
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd.	80	4	77
South Tipperary Development Company Ltd	160	8	180
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd.	120	6	140
Southside Partnership DLR	260	13	231
Tolka Area Partnership	80	4	64
Údarás na Gaeltachta	180	9	160
Waterford Area Partnership	140	7	142
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd.	140	7	100
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd.	160	8	154
West Limerick Resources	120	6	116
Westmeath Community Development Ltd.	140	7	106
Wexford Local Development	340	17	207
South Dublin County Partnership *	380	19	234
Totals	7,500	375	6,701

Table 2: Tús - Fees Paid to Implementing Bodies 2011, 2012 and 2013

Implementing Body	To year end 2011	To year end 2012	2013 to end August
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership	23,200	69,464	114,641
Ballyfermot Partnership Company	17,200	49,800	86,011
Ballyhoura Development	48,535	97,140	108,893
Ballymun Partnership The	17,200	29,880	48,000
Blanchardstown Area Partnership The	29,300	53,234	96,000
Bray Area Partnership	24,268	19,920	42,899
Breffni Integrated	29,300	79,680	98,463
Canal Partnership*	11,000	22,344	182,788
- Dublin Employment Pact Ltd	71,300	127,623	0
Carlow County Development Partnership	29,300	99,600	135,263
Cill Dara Ar Aghaidh Teoranta	103,200	123,660	153,367
Clare Local Development Company	77,250	139,832	149,217
Comhar Chathair Chorcaí Teoranta	60,668	134,718	100,190
Donegal Local Development Company	71,300	158,035	175,272
Fingal Leader Partnership Company	46,000	66,120	130,220
Forum Connemara	12,135	33,356	39,995
Galway City Partnership	48,535	61,750	83,718
Galway Rural Development Co	71,300	159,002	145,324
Inishowen Development Partnership	36,400	95,417	97,204
IRD Duhallow	33,199	71,475	93,001
Kilkenny Leader Partnership Company	29,300	114,571	89,246
Laois Community & Enterprise Development	60,668	99,600	81,750
Leitrim Integrated Development Company	24,268	64,771	81,267
Longford Community Resources	23,200	82,488	86,900
Louth Leader Partnership	56,600	200,775	210,162
Mayo NE Leader Partnership Company	36,400	53,566	108,628
Meath Community Rural & Social Devel Partnership	60,668	99,600	151,586
Monaghan Integrated Development	36,400	90,150	76,759
North and East Kerry Leader Partnership	48,535	99,600	81,673
North Tipperary Leader Partnership	23,200	74,700	112,407
Northside Partnership	40,000	86,940	82,950
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company	60,668	112,998	152,332
People Action Against Unemployment	48,535	59,760	69,203
Rathmines Community Partnership	35,000	49,800	108,606
Roscommon Integrated Development Co	36,400	95,417	117,001
Sligo Leader Partnership Company County	36,400	52,263	104,306
South & East Cork Area Devl Partnership	71,300	158,804	192,795
South Kerry Development Partnership	24,268	66,687	82,204
South Tipperary Local Development Co	60,668	119,168	155,800
South West Mayo Development Co	36,400	91,587	114,957
Southside Partnership DLR	56,000	157,825	219,663
Tolka Area Partnership (Finglas/Cabra)	36,400	59,760	50,041
Údarás na Gaeltachta /	71,300	114,948	147,415
Waterford Area Partnership	48,535	95,130	106,323
Waterford Leader Partnership	29,300	99,600	117,001
West Cork Development Partnership	48,535	95,130	150,069
West Limerick Resources	48,535	95,447	98,894
Westmeath Community Developments	35,000	99,600	117,452
Wexford Local Development	56,600	130,787	185,569
Wicklow Community Partnership County	60,668	99,600	140,776
South Dublin County Partnership**	0	0	276,144
- Clondalkin Partnership	29,300	39,840	0
- Dodder Valley Partnership (Tallaght)	46,000	99,180	0
Totals	2,275,641	4,752,142	5,950,342

*Canal Communities Partnership took over delivery of Tús in the Dublin Inner City area from the Dublin Employment Pact in 2012.

**South Dublin County Partnership is an amalgamation of Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan and Newcastle Partnership and Dodder Valley Partnership (mid-2012).

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Questions (578)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

578. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent support was withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37152/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been in receipt of rent supplement since 12th July 2012. Further information was requested from the client on the 7th August 2013, regarding outstanding information relating to employment. The client's entitlement is temporarily suspended due to the non-disclosure of this pertinent information. A decision on current entitlement can be made by the Department on receipt of this requested information.

One-Parent Family Payment Expenditure

Questions (579)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason one parent family payment was withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, if she will reinstate their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37153/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The one parent family payment in respect of the person concerned was closed as she had failed to reply to correspondence from the Department in connection with a review of her claim. The person concerned has since contacted the Department and her payment was reinstated on 19 August 2013 along with the payment of arrears due.

National Internship Scheme Data

Questions (580)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

580. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of internships through JobBridge have positions that have been advertised by the Health Service Executive to date since the start of the programme; the role of each of the positions advertised; the exact date each position was advertised, when it was filled, for how long each position lasted for; if any of the positions replaced existing paid roles within the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37159/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

JobBridge internships are designed to provide interns with high-quality real-workplace experience to enable them to break the cycle where they are unable to progress into employment, even with good practical or academic qualifications, but lacking proven real work experience.

As at 22nd August, 2013, 19,954 internships had commenced since JobBridge came into operation, 5,338 individuals were actually on internships and 2,149 internship opportunities were advertised on the JobBridge website, www.jobbridge.ie.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) and various hospitals have placed 524 interns since JobBridge commenced. 364 of these placements have been completed and 160 individuals are currently placed on internships with HSE or hospitals.

Internship opportunities are advertised for 8 weeks on the JobBridge website, unless the position is filled before that time. The period can also be extended.

The most common roles advertised are: administrative assistant; assistant psychologist; physiotherapist/chartered physiotherapist; laboratory aide/laboratory assistant/laboratory microbiology assistant; occupational therapy assistant; medical secretary assistant; adult mental health primary care practitioner; accounts assistant/assistant –finance department/clerical officer – finance department/finance assistant; speech/language assistant;

It is strictly against the criteria of JobBridge for interns to displace paid positions.

The recent independent evaluation of JobBridge found very low levels of displacement across the Scheme. Wherever a specific allegation of displacement is made the Department investigates it. Where a host organisation is found to have committed a serious breach of the Scheme it is excluded from further participation.

I am very encouraged to advise that the Indecon evaluation also found that 41.2% of all participants who undertook their internship in a public sector organisation progressed into paid employment.

The high rates of progression into employment among public sector interns also show that the benefits of the development and experience that interns gain in public sector host organisations facilitates them in gaining employment.

Employment Support Services

Questions (581)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

581. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to bring forward proposals that when persons go on the live register that they be supplied with an information booklet explaining exactly the way the social welfare system functions, rather than just receiving a social welfare card in the post, including information regarding resulting matters when one leaves the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37160/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

It has been a long standing practice that all new jobseeker customers are given an information leaflet outlining the services available to them. This leaflet is kept under ongoing review and updated from time to time, as required.

To further supplement the information already provided, a more comprehensive Jobseeker Information Pack has been introduced as part of the new Intreo service. This pack which is available on the Department’s website, www.welfare.ie outlines the options available to jobseekers in their progression towards employment, including the educational, training and employment opportunities that are available. The pack also provides practical advice on CVs, job applications and interviews.

National Internship Scheme Places

Questions (582)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

582. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection her views that it is appropriate for the new Education and Training Boards taking out paid advertising in regional and local media to attract applicants to the JobBridge scheme, if there is no possibility of employment at the end of their internship; her views that internships should only be made available for such boards if a job is available to the intern at the end of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37162/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

JobBridge internships are designed to provide interns with high-quality real-workplace experience to enable them to break the cycle where they are unable to progress into employment, even with good practical or academic qualifications, but lacking, recent, proven real work experience.

As at 22nd August, 2013, 19,954 internships had commenced since JobBridge came into operation, 5,338 individuals were actually on internships and 2,149 internship opportunities were advertised on the JobBridge website (www.jobbridge.ie ). There have been 312 internships in the VEC/ETB Sector since JobBridge commenced. 301 of these internships have been completed and 11 individuals are currently on internships in that sector.

The evaluation found that over two-thirds of internships have been in private sector organisations, while 22% of internships have been in the public sector and 9% in community and voluntary sector organisations. I am very encouraged to advise that the evaluation also found that 41.2% of all participants who undertook their internship in a public sector organisation progressed into paid employment.

JobBridge internships are providing effective and high quality real-workplace experience to break the cycle where the unemployed, even those with good vocational or academic qualifications have difficulty securing employment without demonstrable work experience.

The high rates of progression into employment among public sector interns also show that the benefits of the development and experience that interns gain in public sector host organisations facilitates them in gaining employment.

Illness Benefit Appeals

Questions (583)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

583. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 11 July 2013 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the applicant in this case is, in addition to other ailments, hearing impaired and cannot engage in the type of sedentary work suggested including security work and phone work; if she will review entitlement to illness benefit notwithstanding their pending appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37168/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The customer’s entitlement to illness benefit was reviewed by the Deputy Chief Medical Advisor on 10th September, 2013 who reassessed all the available medical evidence. The revised medical opinion has been conveyed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, and as a result his appeal was allowed. The customer will be informed shortly regarding the revised decision on his illness benefit claim and appropriate arrears are in the process of being issued.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (584)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

584. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37175/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th July 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (585)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

585. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37193/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24th July 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 19th August 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Widow's Pension Payments

Questions (586)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

586. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an increase for qualified child on their widow's pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37226/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was awarded an increase for qualified child, at the weekly rate of €29.80, with effect from the 28th October 2011. All due arrears have been paid.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Questions (587)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review entitlement to supplementary welfare in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37245/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In July 2013 the supplementary welfare allowance claim of the person concerned was closed following a review. In order to establish if she has a current entitlement, she should re-apply to her local community welfare service office.