Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009
833 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an application for exceptional needs payment will be awarded in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33140/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.
The Dublin/Mid Leinster area of the HSE has advised that it made an exceptional needs payment to the persons concerned on 26 August 2009. There is no record of a more recent claim for an exceptional needs payment. If the people concerned wish to claim such a payment, they should contact their local community welfare officer.
834 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was deemed not to qualify for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33297/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that they require care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. This care and attention must be provided by another person, effectively full time, so as to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person in question on 21st July 2009. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child did not satisfy the medical criteria pertaining to the scheme.
A letter issued to the person in question on 21st September 2009 advising of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance on the basis that the medical criteria had not been satisfied. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or request that the case be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor.
Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer, they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
835 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure the retention of the dental treatment benefit scheme on behalf of the dental profession, their staff and the two million people here who are eligible for treatment benefits that they have paid for in good faith through PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33358/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra842 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to abolish the dental treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33888/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 835 and 842 together.
The proposal to discontinue the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme will be considered as part of the Estimates and Budget process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.
836 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in receipt of social welfare payments will receive their Christmas bonus in 2009. [33529/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Christmas Bonus payment was introduced in December, 1980, for social welfare pensioners and people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. There have been a number of developments in this scheme since its inception, including upward and downward adjustments in the level of the bonus payment.
Each year the Government makes a decision on the payment of the Christmas Bonus having regard to the prevailing economic circumstances. This year it has been necessary for the Government to take steps to reduce overall public expenditure so as to restore order and stability to the public finances.
In this context, the decision was made that the Christmas Bonus would not be paid in 2009. The decision was announced in the April 2009 Supplementary Budget.
