Written Answers Nos. 46-51
46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40785/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th September 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.
47. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why the social welfare office in Portarlington in County Laois refused financial assistance or provision of information regarding the JobBridge and the JobsPlus schemes, or equivalent, to a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40787/15]
View answerThe person referred to in the Deputy’s question contacted Portarlington Branch Office having finished a SOLAS course and was advised of the eligibility criteria that they must meet to satisfy the conditions of the JobBridge scheme. These include that the client must be on the Live Register and in receipt of one of the qualifying payments or signing for credits for at least 3 months. Time spent on the SOLAS course may count towards meeting the above criteria.
The client in question made an application for Jobseeker’s Allowance and was approved for payment from 10 November 2015. It is now open to this client to apply for a JobBridge internship through the Jobs Ireland website, www.jobsireland.ie. Once in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department eligibility as an employee for JobsPlus can also be checked by applying on line at www.jobsplus.ie.
48. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40792/15]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 24 September 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
49. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Limerick was not entitled to a back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40795/15]
View answerBack to education allowance scheme (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education subject to meeting the qualifying conditions.
The person concerned made an application to participate in the BTEA scheme which was refused by illness benefit section on the grounds that they were not in receipt of any social welfare payment. Illness benefit customers must be in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of 312 days.
The person concerned was on illness benefit from 15 April 2015 to 12 Sept 2015 (130 days) when a final cert was submitted.
It is not possible, within the scope of the scheme, to authorise an application for payment where the basic qualifying conditions have not been satisfied.
My department is now dealing directly with the person concerned regarding this matter.
50. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a review of an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as all relevant documentation has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40810/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 24 July 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 05 October 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review or appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and has submitted further medical evidence in support of his request. This review will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If the outcome of the review is not in favour of the person in question, he will retain the right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
51. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and 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. [40815/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
