David Stanton
Ceist:947 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons currently in receipt of fish assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31699/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 16 September 2009
Ceisteanna (789, 790, 791, 792)
David Stanton
Ceist:948 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if one of the features of the fish assist scheme, which includes relaxation of signing on arrangements, is operated by her officials in her Department; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31700/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraDavid Stanton
Ceist:949 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Christmas bonus was payable to persons in receipt of farm assist and fish assist in 2008; the number who received such a bonus in that year in each of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31701/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 947 to 949, inclusive, together.
The focus of the bonus has always been on people who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. These include recipients of State pension (transition), State pension (contributory and non-contributory), blind pension, widow's, widower's and invalidity pensions, guardian's payment (contributory and non-contributory), one-parent family payment, carer's benefit and allowance, disability allowance, long-term jobseeker's allowance, pre-retirement allowance, farm assist and people in receipt of employment support payments. The bonus is also payable to participants in the Rural Social Scheme, which was introduced in 2004, and operates under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Approximately 7,500 recipients of farm assist were paid the bonus in 2008. Some customers whose claims were awarded retrospectively after the beginning of December would also have received the bonus but it is not possible to ascertain the number of such claims at this time. Fish assist is not a scheme in its own right. It is jobseeker's allowance with a more favourable means test applied.
Willie Penrose
Ceist:950 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will confirm that it is not her intention to abolish the dental treatment scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the McCarthy report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31789/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposals contained in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, including the proposal relating to the treatment benefit schemes, will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and budget processes and in the light of available resources. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.