Róisín Shortall
Ceist:763 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the regulations governing the living alone allowance with regard to hospital stays; his views on whether it is fair that, if older persons who are in receipt of this allowance attend hospital as an in-patient for more than 13 weeks, they have their payment suspended for that period; and the amount this has saved the Exchequer in the last year for which figures are available; if he will review this rule as an indication of the State's commitment to the International Year of Older Persons. [2255/99]