Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

108 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the growing and widespread concern in areas throughout Dublin of the extent and impact of the number of rent subsidies being granted by community welfare officers of the Eastern Health Board; if, in view of these concerns, he will establish a task force in conjunction with the Health Board, the Minister for the Environment and Dublin Corporation into the implications of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

I am aware of the increasing role of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in providing support for the housing costs of those who are unable to secure local authority housing or who are unable to provide for their housing needs from their own resources. In this context, an interdepartmental group has been established with representatives of my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Department of Finance at which matters of common concern in relation to rent and mortgage supplementation and housing policy are regularly discussed.

In 1992 I established an Advisory Group, under the chairmanship of my Department, with representatives from the eight regional health boards, to review all aspects of the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The group is currently working on a review of the guidelines on rent and mortgage supplementation. In the context of revising the guidelines I am concerned to ensure an equitable and effective system of provision for people who need assistance with housing costs, in the context of State provision for housing needs generally.

John Browne

Ceist:

109 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the delay in granting an oral hearing to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been waiting since 10 August 1993, who will not have an oral hearing until 1994 and who has been surviving with his wife and four children on £50 per week supplementary welfare allowance.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The unemployment assistance of the person concerned was disallowed from 28 July 1993 due to his failure to establish that he satisfied the conditions as to means in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts. His appeal against this decision was received by the independent Social Welfare Appeal Office on 10 August 1993.

A further investigation by the local social welfare investigator was carried out in September 1993 and again the person concerned failed to establish that he satisfied the condition as to means. The case was considered by an appeals officer who decided that an oral hearing of the appeal was appropriate. The oral hearing will take place in Carlow on 14 December.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

110 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, who was in receipt of long term unemployment benefit but was transferred to disability benefit as a result of an accident on 7 November 1993, will be included in the Christmas bonus scheme this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Social Welfare Regulations provide that the Christmas bonus is payable to persons in receipt of pensions and long term social welfare payments only. The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit which is a short term social welfare payment and, therefore, does not qualify for payment of the Christmas bonus.