Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance Eligibility.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

528 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the implications of Statutory Instrument 200 of 1991 on the level and eligibility of disabled person's maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The Disabled Person's (Maintenance Allowances) Regulations, 1991 (S.I. No. 200 of 1991) provided for the payment of the 1991 budgetary increases in the rates of the allowance with effect from 21 July 1991. It increased the rates as follows:

	Former Rate	Revised Rate
	£	£
Personal	52.00	55.00
Adult dependant	31.00	33.00
Child dependant	11.00	12.00

The regulations also provide for a change in the method of payment of the allowance to couples, married or co-habiting, where both partners are in receipt of DPMA or where one is in receipt of DPMA and the other in receipt of a social welfare payment. The effect of the change, which bring DPMA into line with social welfare, is that couples in such cases will receive the equivalent of one full personal rate and one adult dependant rate.