Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 1989

Vol. 393 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

90.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason that people resident in Ireland and receiving American social welfare pensions are not eligible for the various benefits such as free electricity allowance and free telephone rental allowance unlike those receiving British social welfare pensions; and if it is his intention to make the necessary changes or reciprocal arrangements so that the American pensioners can qualify in the same way as others.

Up to this year the free electricity and free telephone rental allowance schemes were available only to recipients of Irish or British State pensions. From April 1989 I extended entitlement to these schemes to all European Community social security pensioners aged 66 years or over and those aged under 66 years who are in receipt of EC invalidity pensions for more than 12 months and who are resident in Ireland.

The question of further extending the schemes to include persons receiving American social security pensions would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

91.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the rate of payment of an old age non-contributory pension of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be increased further to his appeal in this regard; and when an oral hearing will be arranged for this person.

The person concerned has been in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension since 24 April 1987 at a rate appropriate to means of £33.17 per week.

At the request of the person concerned the case was reinvestigated in July 1989. Following reinvestigation means were again assessed at £33.17. Means were assessed on the basis of the pensioner's share in a holding. The person concerned has appealed against the means assessment. The case has been referred to an appeals officer who will examine all the evidence relevant to this case and, if necessary, request the pensioner to attend an oral hearing.

92.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 October 1989. As she had been considered capable of work on her previous claim payment of benefit was suspended pending examination by a medical referee of the Department.

Arrangements are being made for a further medical examination and her entitlement to payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.

93.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if persons who are in receipt of unemployment assistance and who reside in cottages with a one acre plot of land and have no income from that land are entitled to participation in the free fuel scheme.

The national fuel scheme was extended in October 1987 to persons, other than smallholders, who were in receipt of long term unemployment assistance. Some 30,000 additional recipients qualified under the scheme as a result of this extension. Persons with land who have no means assessed against them from their holding would be elegible for a fuel allowance provided the other conditions of the scheme are satisfied.

Barr
Roinn