Written Answers Nos. 121-127
121. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for domiciliary care allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8482/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 14th March 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who considered that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 20th May 2013 outlining the decision to refuse the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 4th December 2013 that the appeal had not been allowed.
122. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has been diagnosed with a long-term illness which causes them to undergo bone marrow transplants and will never work again, has been denied entitlement to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8493/14]
View answerInvalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 19 November 2013. Based upon the medical evidence supplied in support of her claim, a deciding officer decided that the person concerned is not eligible for invalidity pension as she does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was, accordingly, disallowed. The applicant was notified on 30 January 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right to seek a review or appeal.
To date no further correspondence has been received from the person concerned. In light of the specific circumstances of this case, the medical eligibility is being reviewed by a deciding officer and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome. If this process results in no change of the deciding officer’s opinion it is still open to the person in question to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the rate of the living alone allowance for pensioners who are struggling to maintain a household with one income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8505/14]
View answerThe living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 or over who are living alone and in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and receiving payments, mainly in relation to disability.
The basic rate of the State pension has not been reduced, despite very significant budgetary pressure. The positive impact of this is illustrated in the main metrics used to measure poverty in Ireland. This shows that in 2004, the at risk of poverty rate for people aged 65 or over was 27.1% compared the total population rate of 19.4%. By 2011, the rate for this group had dropped to 9.7%, while for the population as a whole the rate was 16%.
Similar results can be seen in relation to consistent poverty. In 2011 the rate for the over 65 age group was 1.9%, compared to 6.9% for the population as a whole. This compares to the figures in 2004 which were at 3.9% and 6.6% respectively.
Any decision to increase the rate of the living alone allowance would be a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.
124. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their appeal for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8528/14]
View answerI am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 6 February 2014, and in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Appeals Office has contacted the appellant and asked him to set out the complete grounds of his appeal. On receipt of his response the relevant departmental papers will be requested from the Department of Social Protection and the appeal will then be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer for consideration.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister of Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
125. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8530/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a decision will issue to the person concerned in respect of her appeal within the next two weeks.
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.
126. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will explain the precise reasons and calculations used to determine the reason mortgage interest supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 was deemed to have been overpaid. [8563/14]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of Mortgage Interest Supplement since April 2010 and was paid at the rate of €486.40 per month up to 30 September 2013.
On the 8th October 2013, the Department undertook a routine review of the Mortgage Interest Supplement claim and, as part of the review, requested the person to complete a MS1 form and to return it along with supporting documentation.
When the requested documents were returned, they confirmed that the person had renegotiated a change to their repayment plan. The Department wrote to the person on the 25th November 2013 requesting further details so that an accurate assessment could be carried out.
On the 21st January 2014, the person provided a mortgage statement and her phone number. A Departmental official spoke to the person and explained the need for further information.
Once all the necessary information was provided a new calculation was carried out and the payment was changed.
The claimant is requested to contact her local office who will provide her with full details of the calculation of the revised payment.
127. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will detail final salaries levels, lump sum or additional payments and the pension payments made to each chief executive officer or regional executive of Údarás who has retired in the past three years. [8545/14]
View answerAs indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 416 and 417 of 15 January 2014, I have been advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that it considers that the payments referred to by the Deputy are covered under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Accordingly, Údarás na Gaeltachta is not in a position to supply the information requested. I am also advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that all payments of the nature referred to were made in accordance with the Údarás na Gaeltachta Staff Superannuation Scheme and the relevant contractual arrangements.
