(Cavan) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will amend the appropriate regulations in order that a prescribed female relative's allowance may be granted to a person in County Cavan (name supplied) in respect of the daughter of her adopted son (name supplied) in view of the fact that the person's adopted son has been institutionalised on a long term basis and that his wife died under tragic circumstances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Female Relative's Allowance.
36.
I have no power to amend the regulations in respect of prescribed female relative allowance in such a way as to extend eligible categories to include non-relatives. As the Deputy was informed on the 25th May, the person concerned does not fall into any of the eligible classes.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that the female relative mentioned in this question has resided with the pensioner since birth, that for many years now she is the only person residing in that house with the pensioner because the female relative's father has been institutionalised, and will probably be for the rest of his life, and the female relative's mother was actually killed by the female relative's father? In these circumstances surely this female relative who is now in her twenties should be regarded as an adopted child, the pensioner should be regarded as in loco parentis to this girl and she should qualify? Would the Minister not agree that there is probably no necessity to amend the regulations and that with any sort of liberal or sympathetic interpretation of the existing regulations this female relative should be regarded as such?
The person in question is not a relative and I am just wondering whether it might not be possible to regularise the matter on the part of the parties themselves.
(Cavan): In what way?
Supposing there was legal adoption?
(Cavan): This person is over 20 years of age.
I am calling Question No. 37.
(Cavan): Would the Minister not look into it?
I looked into it when the Deputy raised the question here before and I will communicate personally with him about it.
(Cavan): I would like the Minister to do so because otherwise I was going to raise it on the Adjournment.