Vol. 552 No. 1
474 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will not be paid the dependent child rate element of a disability benefit payment until their child finishes secondary school; and if he will correct the anomaly which has arisen in such cases following the arrangements provided for in Budget 2002. [11156/02]
The person concerned is currently in receipt of disability benefit, which includes an increase for a child who reached 18 on 1 February 2002. This increase will continue until Saturday, 29 June 2002, which is the end of the current academic year. There is no provision for the continued payment of child dependant allowances to people receiving short-term payments, where the child remains in full-time education after the end of the academic year in which she or he reaches 18. A new measure contained in the Social Welfare Act, 2002, provided for the contribution of child dependant payments to the end of the academic year in which the child reaches 18. Further improvements in this regard are a matter for consideration in a budgetary context.
475 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a carer's allowance appeal will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [11235/02]
The application for carer's allowance from the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that the care recipient was not in need of full-time care and attention as required by legislation. She appealed against this decision to the social welfare appeals office and her case was considered by an appeals officer who has decided that an oral hearing is necessary. The person concerned will be advised of the date and venue for the hearing when the arrangements have been made.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
476 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will recognise the interrupted state of employment that dancers and choreographers endure, and provide them with access to unemployment benefit when they are between contracts; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that dancing is a profession, and professionals in this field must be available for training and auditions and that by accessing continuous training and attending auditions they are actively seeking work. [11236/02]
477 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will take into account the fact that some people who earn their living in certain professions, such as professional dancers, can only get contracts of approximately three to six months and therefore are not eligible to claim unemployment benefit in periods when they are seeking work in their chosen profession, but are told by the Department that they must seek conventional work such as in shops or restaurants which would deprive them of the ability to continue ongoing daily training and auditions for their professions; if exceptions are made for other professions, such as actors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11321/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.
Social welfare legislation provides that in order to be entitled to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. A person who fails to satisfy these conditions on an ongoing basis is not entitled to an unemployment payment. It is accepted that periods of unemployment are a normal feature of the dancing and choreography professions and people in those professions can qualify for payment when they are out of work. Where a person is seeking work in his or her usual employment, he or she would normally satisfy the conditions for receipt of payment, provided there is a reasonable prospect of securing work of that nature. However, in situations where it is clear that there is no employment available in a specialised field within a reasonable period, the unemployed person is expected to broaden his or her search to include other types of employment. The application of these conditions is the same for members of the artistic professions as for other claimants for unemployment payments.
Where a person is dissatisfied with a decision to refuse him or her an unemployment payment, he or she may appeal the decision to the social welfare appeals office.
