Derek McDowell
Ceist:135 Mr. D. McDowell asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether more moneys are due to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 in respect of equality treatment arrears. [6747/96]
Written Answers. - Equal Treatment Payments.
Retrospective equal treatment payments are made to married women who were paid lower entitlements than married men in similar circumstances in the period December 1984 to November 1986. The provisions do not apply to married women who were separated from their husbands.
The person concerned was receiving disability benefit during the relevant period. She was separated from her husband at the time and has been receiving deserted wife's benefit since June 1985. She claimed arrears under the equal treatment provisions introduced in 1992. When her claim was being examined it was discovered that she was wrongly paid at the reduced personal rate of disability benefit for the period December 1984 to June 1985. Her claim was amended and arrears of £111 was issued to her in December 1992.
She was one of a number of claimants on behalf of whom legal proceedings were initiated to obtain arrears. A payment of £30.42 was issued to her solicitor in July 1995 being compensation for delay on the payment already made in 1992. She is not entitled to further equality payments.