Vol. 573 No. 5
194 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when one parent family allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25912/03]
An application by the person concerned for one-parent family payment was refused and she was advised of the reason in July 2003. Her appeal against this decision is with the social welfare appeals office, which will be in contact with her on the matter as soon as possible.
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.
195 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the excess a person (details supplied) in County Mayo received in an unemployment payment; the way in which this figure was arrived at; when the overpayment came to her Department's notice; the reason this person has been informed that the decision to suspend their claim was an administrative one and is, therefore, not open to appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25916/03]
When a question arises in an individual case as to whether the conditions for continued payment of benefit or assistance are not met, payment can be left temporarily suspended until the question is formally decided.
196 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proposals she has to extend child benefit to students in full time education up to their 22nd birthdays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25952/03]
Child benefit is payable in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years and continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education, or who have a physical or mental disability.
According to figures collected under the quarterly national household survey by the Central Statistics Office for the final quarter of 2002, there were an estimated 116,700 students aged 19 to 22 years. Extending child benefit to this category would, therefore, cost in the region of €185 million per annum.
The policy of the Government over the past number of years has been to substantially increase the amount spent on child benefit for all families. The Government's commitment to this policy is reflected in the substantial resources invested in the child benefit scheme since 1997.
It is recognised that there is a need to target resources at persons on low incomes with children in third level. For this reason, entitlement to child dependant allowance has been extended to age 22 from October 2003 where the parent of a full-time third level student has been in receipt of a short-term social welfare payment for six months or more. This measure is estimated to cost €630,000 in a full year. Short-term schemes include such payments as unemployment benefit and assistance, disability benefit and supplementary welfare allowance. The provision already applies to recipients of long-term payments.
197 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the correct rent support payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26009/03]
Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the regional health boards, payment of a weekly or monthly supplement may be made in respect of rent to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs.
Rent supplements are subject to a means test and are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €12 which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
The South Western Area Health Board was contacted on behalf of the individual in question and has advised that she had been assessed for rent supplement as a single parent with one child. I understand that the person concerned gave birth to her second child some weeks ago. In view of the change in her circumstances, the rate of rent supplement payable has been reviewed to take account of her new family composition.
In the course of the review an error was discovered in the calculation of the amount of rent supplement paid for the period June 2003 to October 2003. Maintenance payments of €30 per week were not taken into account in the means test thus giving rise to an overpayment of rent supplement. The health board does not propose to seek recovery of this overpayment in view of the circumstances of the case.
The correct amount of rent supplement is scheduled to go into payment on 24 November 2003. My Department will carry out a review of her one-parent family payment in view of the change in her circumstances. The level of rent supplement payable may fall to be revised in the light of the outcome of this review.
198 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the exact information her Department is looking for from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo regarding their entitlement to an unemployment payment. [26039/03]
As part of a review of the person's entitlement to unemployment assistance he was requested to provide detailed account of his financial situation. The person concerned was requested by letter, issued on 2 September 2003, to provide statements of financial accounts and loans either held solely or jointly by himself and/or his spouse at specified financial institutions. He failed to respond fully to this request and as a consequence his payment was suspended on 23 September 2003 pending production of the documentation requested. In the meantime, he informed the Department that he was due to commence work on 22 September 2003.
