Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 10

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

154 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) whereby, because of the death of both parents, the grandparents have taken on the responsibility of rearing two grandchildren for which they are receiving an orphan's pension of £64 per week which in turn is being taken into account as part of their means for assessment for supplementary welfare, which is now being paid at a rate of £42.50 per week for the person and his wife which is a total of £55.50 per week less than the amount to which they would otherwise be entitled; if, having regard to this case, an orphan's allowance will be paid for the upkeep of orphans and should not be taken into account as means of the fostering or adoptive parents and that the normal supplementary welfare will be paid to the person concerned in respect of himself, his wife and his own two children.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which are responsible for administering the supplementary welfare allowances scheme in Dublin, that the contributory orphan's allowance in payment to the person concerned in respect of his two grandchildren is being assessed as means in determining his entitlement to an allowance. The position in this regard is, however, under review at present and when the review has been completed the person concerned will be informed of the outcome.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

155 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 who has reached the age of 23 years is effectively disqualified from receiving dental treatment under her social insurance contributions when the same number of contributions qualified her for dental treatment in previous years.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

An underlying principle of the social insurance scheme is that, to establish entitlement to benefit, persons must have been insurably employed and paid appropriate rates of PRSI for a certain length of time. The requirement in the case of treatment benefits, for persons aged 23 years, or over, is a minimum of 208 weeks.

However, recognising that younger claimants may only recently have entered insurable employment, an exemption is made for persons under 23 years of age. Such persons can qualify for benefit after only 39 weeks of insurable employment.

The person concerned claimed dental benefit on 23 March 1990. She had reached 23 years of age before that date and, as she only had 79 reckonable PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurance, her claim could not be approved.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

156 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the level of widowers pension payable to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The person concerned is in receipt of a widower's (non-contributory) pension of £74.80. This is the maximum rate payable to a widower under 66 years with two dependent children.

In addition, he receives a free fuel allowance of £5.00 per week between October and April. He also receives a total of six butter vouchers each week for himself and his two children.