Vol. 495 No. 7
535 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the Christmas bonus will be paid to social welfare recipients who are in receipt of unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21051/98]
An amount of £40 million is provided in my Department's 1998 annual Estimates to provide for payment of a Christmas bonus to recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The bonus payment will amount to 70 per cent of the person's normal weekly payment subject to a minimum payment of £20, similar to the bonus paid in 1997, and payment will be made in the first week of December.
This payment will be made to 715,000 long-term social welfare recipients in receipt of disablement pension, death benefit by way of pension, old age (contributory and non-contributory) pension, retirement pension, invalidity pension, widow's and widower's (non-contributory) pension, widow's and widower's (contributory) pension, orphan's (contributory and non-contributory) pension, pre-retirement allowance, blind pension, carer's allowance, one parent family payment, payments to people formerly in receipt of deserted wife's benefit and allowance and prisoner's wife's allowance, unemployment assistance at the long-term rate, and disability allowance.
The bonus is payable to recipients of long-term social welfare payments. Unemployment benefit is a short-term scheme and I have no plans to extend the bonus to such schemes.
536 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid a lone parent's allowance. [21087/98]
It was decided on 27 October 1998 that the person concerned is not entitled to the one-parent family payment, as according to the information available to the Department she and another person are residing together as husband and wife.
The person concerned has been notified of this decision and of her right of appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office if she is not satisfied with the decision.
537 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a review will be carried out of the smallholder's assistance scheme to make it accessible to a greater number of farmers by disregarding the first £2,000 profit from farming activities, as in the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21095/98]
In the context of the current difficulties being faced by farmers on low incomes, my Department is taking steps to increase awareness of the smallholder's assistance scheme and to emphasise its applicability to farmers. It should be noted also that it is open to claimants to apply for a re-assessment at any stage if they consider that their income position has worsened since the initial means assessment was undertaken. Finally, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food, is examining the means assessment procedures to ensure they take full account of the recent deterioration of farm incomes.
A revision of the means test applying to the smallholder's assistance scheme along the lines suggested by the Deputy would have significant cost implications and could be considered only in a budgetary context, in the light of the resources available and of other competing priorities.
538 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the increase in the uptake of family income supplement since the 1997 budget; the number of people entitled to family income supplement who have not claimed the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21102/98]
The 1997 budget provided for an increase of £10 per week in the income thresholds used to determine the level of family income supplement payable. In addition, it provided for the first step towards the calculation of FIS on a net income basis by providing that income was to be assessed net of PRSI contributions, levies and superannuation payments.
These measures took effect in June, 1997 at which time some 12,045 families were in receipt of the payment. By end September 1998 that number had risen to 12,973.
The Deputy will be aware that in this Government's first budget in 1998 we provided for the assessment of income on a net basis for FIS purposes with effect from October 1998. It is envisaged that this measure will enable more than 7,000 additional families to qualify for the scheme.
539 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be awarded the back to work allowance. [20952/98]
Back to work allowance has been awarded to the person concerned from 23 September 1998 at the weekly rate of £99.10.
540 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when social welfare payments will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, in view of the fact that he is available for and genuinely seeking work. [20965/98]
553 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be finalised in view of the fact that he submitted proof that he was genuinely looking for work. [21550/98]
It is proposed to answer Questions Nos. 540 and 553 together.
The person's entitlement to unemployment assistance was reviewed recently when it came to attention that he had failed to attend a FÁS interview for participation in a community employment scheme. A letter issued to him from the social welfare services inquiring as to the reason for his non-attendance and requesting details of his recent efforts to obtain employment in order to establish that he is genuinely seeking and available for work.
The deciding officer, having considered his reply, was of the opinion the person concerned was not available for work and disallowed his claim accordingly. The person concerned has appealed this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office. An appeals officer has examined his case and is of the opinion that an oral hearing is necessary. This will be arranged as soon as possible.
541 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will allow payment of a back to education allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is in her second year of a diploma course in Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20966/98]
To qualify for the back to education allowance, an applicant must, immediately prior to commencing an approved course of study, be at least 21 years of age and be in receipt of an unemployment payment, one parent family payment, disability allowance or blind person's pension for at least six months.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance up to 31 August 1998. She commenced employment on 1 September 1998 and as she was not in receipt of an unemployment payment immediately prior to commencing her course of study her application for the back to education allowance could not be allowed.
