Vol. 423 No. 5
21 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is intended to implement the budget proposal announced in January, 1992, to extend maternity benefit to adoptive parents; and the reason for the delay in implementing this proposal.
As announced in the budget, the Government intends to promote legislation to provide for leave from employment for the purposes of adopting a child and to make a benefit payment available to people who qualify for such leave.
26 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on a recent decision given by the Southern Health Board in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to disallow her social welfare supplementary allowance on the grounds that the assistance is not paid towards the purchase of a house under the tenant purchase scheme and in view of the fact that this person could revert to tenancy; and if he agrees with the judgement in this case.
Tenant purchasers are normally advised by health boards to contact the local authority with a view to renegotiating the terms of their agreements or reverting back to tenancy.
It is understood from the Southern Health Board that the person in question made inquiries with the local authority regarding the possibility of reverting to tenancy but decided not to do so because the rent could exceed her current weekly mortgage repayment of approximately £15 per week.
Where the question of a mortgage supplement arises health boards assist only with the interest element of a mortgage repayment less a contribution of £5 per week from the claimant. In this case, a further contribution would be required from the applicant's son as he is in employment, and is residing with her. The health boards have advised that, in these circumstances, the applicant would not qualify for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
28 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people who are receiving family income supplement in (a) the whole country and (b) County Carlow.
There are currently 7,341 families in receipt of family income supplement, of which 154 reside in County Carlow.
30 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether suspicion without proof, justifies refusal of unemployment assistance to applicants who are suspected of working or own stock.
Claims for unemployment assistance are decided, in common with claims for other social welfare entitlements, by statutorily appointed deciding officers who are required to make their decisions objectively in the light of all the evidence available to them. The evidence is usually in the form of the information supplied by the claimant in the application form supplemented where appropriate by a report of a Department's investigating officer. Claimants dissatisfied with decisions are entitled to appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office.
Suspicion alone cannot form the basis for disallowing unemployment assistance or other social welfare payment. Standing instructions to deciding officers require them to ensure that decisions on entitlement are decided in accordance with the principles of natural justice. In practice this means that an applicant should be aware of the evidence on which his or her entitlement will be decided and where this evidence has come from a source other than the claimant, that the claimant be given an opportunity to comment upon it. Where existing payments are being reviewed, an applicant is advised of the review and of the specific conditions under scrutiny. The procedures already outlined are followed.
31 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any proposals for changes in the social welfare code so that all children are treated equally; if, in regard to universal child benefit and child dependant's allowance payable with all social welfare payments, he has any new policy proposals; his views on whether, in the absence of a child tax allowance, the present social welfare system is creating an anomaly whereby workers with children are frequently worse off than on the dole thus creating a major poverty trap; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if students in second level education who have reached the age of 18 years and are being maintained by their parents are entitled to continued payment of child benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
111 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether there is a case for a substantial increase in child benefit.
I propose to take Questions No. 31, 45 and 111 together.
