Vol. 421 No. 9
118 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to extend the social welfare system to accommodate the very special needs of persons with HIV/AIDS when assessing eligibility and allowances to such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Eligibility for social welfare payments depends on the claimant fulfilling the appropriate contribution conditions or, in the case of social assistance schemes, the appropriate means test. In recognition of the special circumstances of people with HIV/AIDS, provision was made in the Social Welfare Act, 1991, to exempt for means test purposes any income derived from the haemophilia HIV trust fund established by the Government.
There are no plans for further changes in the conditions of eligibility for the people concerned.
