Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

John Perry

Ceist:

603 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the other source of financial aid that is available to the 800 housing applicants on Sligo Borough Council and 750 on Sligo County Council's housing list with regard to the rent supplement; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while some applicants may be in a position to reside with family or relatives, many have no option but to seek private rented accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31173/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan):

The objective of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is to deal with emergencies and short-term income maintenance needs that arise when a person suffers a change in circumstances, for example, when a tenant becomes unemployed and can no longer afford his or her rent. Rent supplements were never intended to meet a person's long-term housing needs. In this regard, new measures which are being introduced will help to refocus the rent supplement scheme on its original objective of short-term income maintenance. The requirement to have been in rented accommodation for at least six months will not apply to persons who have been assessed by a housing authority as having a housing need. Those people to whom the Deputy refers – people who have been assessed by a housing authority as having a housing need and where that need cannot be met by the housing authority, by a voluntary housing organisation or by the person concerned – will continue to be entitled to claim rent supplement.

Gerard Murphy

Ceist:

604 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the free schemes will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [31175/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan):

A person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare-type payment and be living alone or living only with certain excepted categories of persons to qualify for the various allowances under the household benefits package. There is no record in my Department of an application for the household benefits package having been received from the person concerned. As he is in receipt of unemployment assistance, which is not a relevant qualifying payment, he would not be entitled to the various household benefits. People who qualify for a carer's allowance are entitled to the household benefits package, provided that they are the account holder on the relevant utility bill and that the benefits are not already in payment to anyone else in the household. The person concerned did apply to my Department for a carer's allowance in February 2000. His application was refused as he failed to submit relevant medical reports. In the light of this question, the Department will issue an application form for a carer's allowance to the person concerned in case he wishes to reapply and submit the necessary medical information. His eligibility for the household benefits could be reassessed if it transpires that he qualifies for the allowance.

John Cregan

Ceist:

605 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was refused the back to education allowance; if there is an appeal system in this instance; if the application has gone through the full process at this stage; if every consideration has been given to this application; and the qualifying conditions for the allowance. [31236/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan):

The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups of social welfare recipients to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active workforce. The person concerned applied for participation in the allowance scheme to pursue a four-year BSc in occupational therapy at Trinity College in Dublin. She already holds a BA. Resources must be aimed at those most in need. Therefore, this application was refused on the grounds that the person concerned has already achieved a high level of academic attainment. As the back to education allowance is a non-statutory scheme, decisions made on applications are subject to appeal. However, if a person is dissatisfied with the result of their application they can request a review. In this instance, a review of the decision was carried out by a more senior officer. Following a re-examination of the case, the original decision was upheld.

Question No. 606 answered with Question No. 600.