asked the Minister for Social Welfare the course of action now available to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has occupational dermatitis.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
144.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 March 1981 and payment was issued to 4 August 1984. Payment was disallowed from 6 August 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 4 August 1984 to 25 February 1985 the date of the latest medical certificate before him. The decision of the appeals officer is final and can only be altered in the light of new facts or fresh evidence.
The person concerned has continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity and her claim has been further disallowed from 23 February 1985. However, if she considers that her medical condition has deteriorated it is open to her to submit a detailed medical report to that effect to the Department's medical adviser and her claim will then be reviewed.
145.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that there are thousands of employees who are not covered by formal pension schemes for mortality insurance in the event of death in service and that the cost of such insurance is relatively very inexpensive; if he is aware that premiums paid by companies for such cover are tax-deductible at very attractive rates; and if, in view of the grave hardship and distress already suffered by dependants of workers who were not so protected by unfair employers, he will introduce this requirement as a legal right for all such workers.
The State encourages the provision of occupational pension schemes including death-in-service benefits by providing relief from income tax on contributions paid under approved schemes by employers and employees and on the investment income of these schemes. At present there is no obligation on employers to provide occupational pensions for their employees. However, the future role of private pensions schemes is being considered in the context of the framework for a national pension plan which is to be published in line with the commitment contained in the Government's plan Building on Reality 1985-1987.
146.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is satisfied that the weekly rate of £32.80 unemployment assistance is sufficient income in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £1.50 weekly derived from capital. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £31.30 weekly being the appropriate long term rate of unemployment assistance payable to a single person residing in an urban area £32.80 weekly less £1.50 means. If the particular circumstances of the applicant are such that his income is insufficient to meet his needs it is open to him to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. Application should be made to his local community welfare office.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare (a) if he will consider extending the extra benefits to which recipients of a social welfare pension are entitled which include the living alone allowance, free fuel allowance, free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance to other groups of pensioners such as the widows of civil servants and teachers whose incomes are just marginally over the social welfare level but who are excluded from all these benefits; and (b) if he will ensure that this matter is considered by the Review Committee.
Extension of the schemes concerned in the manner suggested by the Deputy would radically alter their nature and would give rise to significant increased costs in financing and administering them. There are no proposals for changes of this nature at the present time. The Commission on Social Welfare is examining the coverage and the effectiveness of all social welfare schemes including the benefits referred to in the question. The matter raised by the Deputy has been brought to the Commission's attention for their consideration.
148.
asked the Minister for the Social Welfare if he will arrange for the Eastern Health Board or the employment exchange to make payments to the staff of Irish Press Publications who have been informed by the Health board that they are awaiting a decision from head office before assistance can be given out while at the same time the employees do not receive benefit from the employment exchange.
A decision on the entitlement to unemployment benefit of persons employed by Irish Press Publications was made last week and payments have been made to those employees whose claims to benefit were allowed. The claims of employees in grades represented by the Irish Print Union, including the person named by the Deputy, were disallowed under the provision in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act which disqualifies persons involved in a trade dispute from entitlement to unemployment benefit. These persons would also be disqualified for receipt of supplementary welfare allowance in their own right but could qualify for payment of such an allowance in respect of their dependents. It is understood that the person named by the Deputy has applied to the community welfare officer and that his application is under consideration.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been asked to return his free travel pass.
The person concerned is entitled to free travel and according to the records of the Department a free travel pass was issued to him on 5 May 1981 when he was awarded an old age non-contributory pension. A second pass was, however, issued in error to him on 22 May 1981 following his transfer to a contributory pension and when this came to light recently he was requested to return the second pass. If he now has only one pass he should retain it and notify the Department accordingly.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has no means whatsoever and who is living in a caravan.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further investigations. When the inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.