asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money paid in supplementary welfare allowances by the Southern Health Board to people waiting for decisions from her on their application for social welfare benefits and assistance for the year 1984-85.
Written Answers. - Supplementary Welfare Payments.
21.
Precise statistics are not maintained of amounts of supplementary welfare allowance paid to persons awaiting payment of social welfare benefit or assistance. However, on the basis of sample returns, it is estimated that the amount paid to such persons by the Southern Health Board in the period from April 1984 to March 1985 was in the region of £1.85 million. There are, however, arrangements whereby amounts paid by health boards in the circumstances mentioned are reimbursed on request out of social welfare payments when the latter payments become due to the persons concerned.