Vol. 488 No. 1
218 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive assistance towards burial costs from the Western Health Board in view of his financial circumstances. [5471/98]
The person referred to by the Deputy recently suffered two family bereavements. He received two full rate death grants of £100 each from my Department. In addition, on 19 February he was awarded a total exceptional need payment of £800 under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Western Health Board towards the burial costs of both relatives. The exceptional need payment of £800 was the contribution the Western Health Board considered appropriate for the basic cost of both funerals, taking into account all the circumstances.
219 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will intervene with the Western Health Board to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can be assisted and approved for mortgage interest supplement. [5488/98]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest payments to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The SWA scheme is administered by the eight regional health boards and my Department has no function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.
The purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme is to assist eligible persons who are unable to meet their mortgage repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.
Entitlement to a mortgage interest supplement is determined by the health boards and supplements are normally calculated to ensure that the person has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which applicants are required to pay from their own resources.
In order to qualify for mortgage interest supplement, the claimant must satisfy all the general conditions of entitlement to SWA as set out in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 and prescribed regulations S.I. No. 382, 1995.
The Western Health Board was contacted on behalf of the person concerned and the board has advised that she does not qualify for a mortgage interest supplement as the household means exceed the statutory limit. The case was appealed to the WHB appeals officer who upheld the decision.
220 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo had his unemployment assistance reduced by £15. [5356/98]
Following a recent review of his entitlements, a deciding officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £86 from 4 February 1998, derived from income from a holding and benefit from his spouse's British pension. This assessment reduced his weekly unemployment assistance entitlement from £39.50 to £25.50.
221 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused supplementary welfare allowance which would enable him to participate in a third level study course in the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England, in view of the fact that he was allowed participate in the back to education allowance scheme and third level option in September 1997 but had to terminate the course because of insufficient income due to the refusal of the Southern Health Board to grant him a rent allowance to supplement his back to education allowance. [5506/98]
Section 172 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, excludes persons in full-time education from receiving assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. However, under Article 6 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Allowance) Regulations of 1995 and 1996, participants on vocational training opportunities schemes, third level allowance, second level certificate courses and part-time education schemes are exempted from this exclusion.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, a weekly supplement may be paid to people in receipt of social welfare or health board payments, including those participating in the third level allowance scheme. Article 32 of S.I. 382 of 1995 excludes from entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance any person who is resident outside the State whether temporarily or permanently.
The person in question was informed by the Southern Health Board prior to Christmas that he is not entitled to a rent supplement for any period he is studying abroad as the legislation precludes the payment of SWA to any person resident outside the State.
222 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will alter article 32 of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Regulations, 1995, which disqualifies persons from receiving supplementary welfare allowance while resident, either temporarily or permanently, outside the State, in view of the fact that this article prevents applicants for supplementary welfare allowance from seeking assistance for the provision of rent allowance while they are pursuing a course of third level study outside of Ireland. [5507/98]
Section 172 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, excludes persons in full-time education from receiving assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
However, participants on third level allowance schemes, are exempted from this but can only qualify for a rent supplement while resident in Ireland.
Article 32 of S.I. 382 of 1995 excludes from entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance anyone who is resident outside the State, whether temporarily or permanently. Third level allowance students resident outside the State cannot therefore qualify for a rent supplement.
I have no plans to alter the residency conditions set out in the regulations.
223 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if employee and employer PRSI contributions for employment in Canada are reckonable in the assessment for an Irish contributory old age pension based on any relevant treaty or agreement between the two States; and, if so, if he will clarify the terms of the agreement and eligibility in this regard. [5618/98]
A bilateral social security agreement between Ireland and Canada came into force on 1 January 1992.
The main purpose of the agreement is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked in Ireland and who have worked or resided in Canada.
The payments covered by the agreement, in Ireland, are old age contributory pension, retirement pension, widows and widowers contributory pension, invalidity pension, orphan's contributory allowance and death grant.
224 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in relation to his old age pension will be heard. [5622/98]
The person concerned applied for an old age (non-contributory) pension on 16 June 1997. He was disallowed on the basis that his means exceed the statutory limit. He appealed this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office and arrangements are being made to hold an oral hearing of the appeal as soon as possible. As soon as these are finalised the person concerned will be notified of the date and venue.
