Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 1

Written Answers. - Eligibility for DPMA.

Tomás MacGiolla

Ceist:

63 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the practice of the Eastern Health Board of using the provisions of section 138 (2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 to transfer mentally handicapped persons from the disabled person's maintenance allowance to unemployment assistance leading to reduction in income for the persons concerned, as well as inconvenience and insecurity; if he will consider taking any steps to end this practice and ensure that mentally handicapped persons continue to qualify for the disabled person's maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

It is established practice by all health boards to periodically review eligibility for DPMA. The frequency of the review would depend on the circumstances in each individual case. Following such reviews the allowance may, in a minority of cases, be discontinued on medical grounds. In these cases the health board may advise a person to apply for unemployment assistance.

Section 138 (2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, which was referred to by the Deputy, provides that persons undergoing vocational training in an organisation approved by the Minister for Health are not precluded from receiving unemployment assistance. It does not, however, give health boards any role in determining eligibility for unemployment assistance; this is entirely a matter for the Department of Social Welfare.

I understand that the Deputy has already been in touch with the Eastern Health Board which have fully explained the situation in regard to two individual cases raised by him.