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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 April 2009

Thursday, 2 April 2009

Ceisteanna (191, 192, 193, 194)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

191 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent supplement is payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14010/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health Service Executive has advised that payment of rent supplement and arrears due was made to the person concerned on 30 March 2009. Payment is effective from 2 February 2009.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

192 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of EU nationals on jobseeker’s allowance and benefit, respectively; the cost of each payment type; the corresponding figures for non-EU nationals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14014/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The number of persons in receipt of a jobseeker's payment is as follows:

Jobseeker's Benefit

Number

EU nationals

176,452

Non-EU nationals

3,782

Jobseeker's Allowance

Number

EU nationals

149,821

Non-EU nationals

6,432

A breakdown of the actual costs in each category is not available. However the average weekly entitlement (not including Fuel/Smog Allowance) is given in the following table. The actual amount received by any individual will depend on family composition and whether they are fully unemployed in a particular week as many claimants are on a reduced working week.

Jobseeker's Benefit

EU nationals

218.36

Non-EU nationals

244.05

Jobseeker's Allowance

EU nationals

224.29

Non-EU nationals

282.58

All claimants, regardless of nationality, are treated equally having regard to the conditions of the individual schemes as laid down in the Social Welfare Acts.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

193 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount paid in early child care supplement to non-resident children since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14015/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The Early Childcare Supplement was introduced in April 2006 and is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The expenditure on the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) for 2006, in respect of non resident children, payable under EU regulations, was €0.4m, the corresponding figure for 2007 was €1.1m and for 2008 was €4.5m. The expenditure in 2009 (to end of March) is €0.69m.

The expenditure on ECS from 2006 to date in respect of non resident children, at some €6.7m, represents 0.5% of the total overall spend on ECS since 2006 of €1,260.5m. Family benefits payable under EU Regulations apply to Irish nationals working in other EU Member States, in the same way as they do to non-Irish-national EU workers in Ireland.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

194 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason funding was not available to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo when they were informed that it would be in the post office on a specified date. [14029/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

No commitment regarding payment was given by an official of the department in this case, as this claim is under appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The department has been informed that an Appeals officer has made a revised decision dated 30th March 2009, partially allowing the appeal and that the file will be returned to the department for follow up action. On receipt of the file from the Social Welfare Appeals Office a decision will be made on his claim and he will be notified of the outcome.

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