Brendan Howlin
Ceist:142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the occupational injury benefit appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford which was submitted to his Department on 28 November 1989, will be determined.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
An injury benefit claim made by the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on 9 November 1989 because inquiries by a social welfare officer had not established that an occupational accident had happened as claimed. The claimant appealed against the decision on 28 November and the appeal was duly referred to the appeals office which requested that further inquiries be made.
These inquiries have now been completed and the appeals office has stated that it will hold an oral hearing of the case, probably during the week commencing 4 June. The appellant will be notified of time and venue of the hearing as soon as the arrangements are made.
John Ellis
Ceist:143 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person will be paid to a person (detail supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned was originally awarded an old age non-contributory pension in December 1983.
Following a review of his means it was decided in September 1989 that he was no longer entitled to pension as his means exceeded the statutory limit of £54.00 per week.
In October 1989 an appeal was lodged in which he cited the transfer of his land to his son as the basis of his appeal. No copy of the deed of transfer was supplied and this was requested to enable the appeals officer to finalise his deliberations.
The deed of transfer was made available to the Department in early May 1990 and as a result a social welfare officer was asked to reassess the means of the person concerned. On completion of the necessary inquiries his case will be reviewed and he will be advised of the outcome.
Andrew Boylan
Ceist:144 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason persons (details supplied) in County Cavan have not been given a date for an oral hearing in relation to their claim for unemployment assistance; if he is aware that their appeal was received in the Department on 31 October 1989 and five months later a decision has not been made or a date set for the oral hearing; and if he will set a date for an oral hearing in this case, with a view to payment from 31 October 1989.
Arising from contentions raised by the two persons concerned in connection with their appeals, it was necessary to refer their cases to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries, which proved to be protracted, have just been completed and their appeals have been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Following an examination of the papers in the cases the appeals officer has decided to hold oral hearings to allow each claimant a full opportunity to present his case in person. It is expected that these hearings will be heard in early June.
Brian Cowen
Ceist:145 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the review of an appeal for unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was signing on at North Cumberland Street Employment Exchange, Dublin 1, after her course at Dublin City University.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment from 16 May 1989. She appealed against the deciding officer's decision and following an oral hearing of her appeal on 15 August 1989, the appeals officer also disallowed her claim.
Her case has now been re-examined, and, in the light of certain contentions she put forward subsequent to her appeal, the papers have been referred to the chief appeal officer for review of the appeals officer's decision of 15 August 1989. She will be advised of the outcome of this review as soon as possible.
A new claim which she made on 11 September 1989 was allowed from that date to 24 October when she ceased to sign.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:146 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in awarding a widow's contributory pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been granted a contributory widow's pension with effect from 5 January 1990. A pension book containing orders from 25 May 1990 will be available for collection at the designated post office on Friday, 25 May 1990. Arrears due from 5 January 1990 will be issued to her by cheque within four weeks, after deduction of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the health board.
The delay in processing this claim resulted from difficulties in compiling the insurance record of the applicant's late husband from his entry into employment in 1943.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:147 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will qualify for dental benefit.
The regulations governing treatment benefits stipulate that any person who is qualified for benefit on reaching the statutory old age pension age remains entitled to dental, optical and aural benefits for life. The person concerned was qualified when he reached 66 years of age and is, therefore, entitled to dental benefit under the treatment benefits scheme.
Previous dental claims received from the person concerned were approved, and appropriate payments made to the dentists concerned. The most recent claim was received in June 1989.