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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (174, 175)

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

231 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an application for supplementary welfare allowance for persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be considered by his Department. [27775/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income. In determining entitlement to an exceptional needs payment, the health board must be satisfied that an exceptional need exists which cannot be met from other sources. As a general rule, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is not used to fund medical services or costs directly incurred in the delivery of medical services.

The South Eastern Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the couple in question made an application for an exceptional needs payment in respect of the cost of an alternative medical treatment. In the opinion of the board, the expenses in question are not considered appropriate to the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The matter is being considered as a health services issue by the board, which is now examining the possibility of providing the treatment directly or of contributing to the cost of it for the couple through that system.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

232 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded unemployment assistance following an appeal. [27875/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The person concerned was in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance from 28 May 1992 to 20 July 2004. Following a review, a deciding officer disallowed her unemployment assistance claim from 21 July 2004 on the grounds that she was not available for and not genuinely seeking employment. An appeals officer subsequently upheld the deciding officer's decision. The person concerned made a repeat application for unemployment assistance effective from 28 September 2004. A deciding officer disallowed this application on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking employment.

It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision and a form for this purpose may be obtained from her local social welfare office. Under social welfare legislation, decisions with regard 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.

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