Written Answers Nos. 38-43
38. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a decision on a claim under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2378/16]
View answerI confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the department on 9 November 2015. The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to the DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
39. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why payment to a person (details supplied) in County Clare has ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2384/16]
View answerDisability allowance has been and remains in payment to the person in question at the maximum rate for his family size. This includes an increase in respect of fuel allowance. The 2015/2016 fuel allowance season is due to end on 5 April 2016.
40. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2404/16]
View answerI confirm the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) on 12 November 2015. In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). The SWI will arrange to meet with the person in question as soon as possible.
A decision on his entitlement to DA will be made on receipt of the Social Welfare Inspector’s report. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
41. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how many persons are in receipt of the family income supplement. [2410/16]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) provides support for employees, with families, who have low earnings in relation to their family size.
The number of families in receipt of FIS at the end of December 2015 was 55,913.
42. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the exchange rate she uses when assessing income from employees who are working in Northern Ireland and who are being assessed for eligibility for social protection payments in the Republic of Ireland; the steps she takes to ensure that a fair exchange rate is used so that people receive appropriate allowance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2411/16]
View answerIn assessing means deriving from payments received from non-Euro countries, the Department uses the conversion mechanism provided for under Article 107 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 574/72 on Social Security for Migrant Workers. The exchange rates for converting sterling and other non-Euro currencies are published quarterly in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Under this mechanism, the conversion rate used for means testing purposes is derived from the average of the daily exchange rates in the first month of a quarter. This rate is then used in all conversions during the course of the succeeding quarter. Alternatively, the conversion rate applicable to the next succeeding quarter is used if it is more beneficial to the customer.
43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why payment under the jobseeker's allowance scheme and the fuel allowance scheme was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if payment will be restored as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2413/16]
View answerA person in receipt of jobseeker's allowance can apply for a maximum of 12 days holidays in a calendar year and continue to receive a payment.
The person concerned was on holidays from 15th December 2015 to 8th January 2016 but had exhausted her entitlement to a payment for holidays in 2015 and therefore she was not entitled to a payment for the period 15th to 31st December 2015 (15 days). She was entitled to payment from 1st to 8th January 2016 as this falls into a new calendar year.
Her payment was suspended from 15th December 2015 to 8th January 2016. This suspension was lifted on 8th January 2016 and her payment has been restored in full.
