Written Answers Nos. 68-76
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the exceptional needs payment made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare falls short of the funeral expenses in respect of a deceased child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13836/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review was carried out by a reviewing officer of the exceptional needs payment application of the person concerned and he has been advised of the outcome.
70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for the back to education allowance, in view of that person's current social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13838/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of qualifying factors that decide eligibility for the back to education allowance scheme. Applicants must be a certain age; be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period of time; be, in general, starting the first year of a full-time course which will lead to a recognised qualification in a recognised college; be progressing in the level of education and be approved in advance of commencing the course of full-time study.
I can confirm that the person concerned is eligible on age grounds and she has been in receipt of a qualifying payment for the required period of time. When the client receives acceptance on a course, she should complete the application form for Back To Education Allowance (BTE1) and return it to her local Department of Social Protection office before commencement of the course.
A decision on the remaining qualification criteria cannot be made until an application is received.
71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to providing partial rent support in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare whose rent has increased by €200 per month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13840/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No 88 of 5th February 2015, the client concerned was not entitled to Rent Supplement as both he and his wife are in full time employment. As also outlined in that response, if there has been a change in the client's circumstances, they should provide documentary evidence to the Department confirming same so that their entitlement to Rent Supplement can be reassessed.
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if increased rent support will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose rent has increased to €1,200 per month, who works part-time and who has one child of 12 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13841/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in monthly rent. Current payslips have also been requested, the case will be examined when the necessary information is received by the Department.
73. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he has received correspondence (details supplied) regarding the World Bank. [13641/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland has an ambassador to the World Bank; and if this ambassador received a copy of the correspondence (details supplied). [13642/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.
The details supplied by the Deputy relate to correspondence from a Ms Karen Hudes which is understood to have been sent to all Ministers for Finance of member countries of the IMF/ World Bank. I have also received the correspondence directly from Ms Hudes via the Embassy in Washington. I understand that Ms Hudes is a former staff member of the World Bank in relation to whom the Bank issued the following statement in July, 2014:-
"An individual named Karen Hudes has been issuing correspondence and arranging meetings in the name of the World Bank. In some communications, Ms.Hudes has presented herself as the World Bank's Acting General Counsel.
Karen Hudes has not been employed by the World Bank since 2007 and is in no capacity authorized to represent any arm of the World Bank Group. Any claims otherwise by Ms.Hudes or her proxies are false and should not be viewed as credible."
The above statement from the World Bank is available at http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/07/08/statement-former-staff-karen-hudes
75. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the extent to which Irish driving licence holders are being penalised with extremely high motor insurance premiums as they return to live and work in Ireland after being abroad for two or three years, noting that the licence holders were previously insured for driving in the State with a full licence for periods of up to 20 years and have no previous claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13651/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my role as Minister for Finance I have responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland, as regulator, interfere in the pricing of insurance products. The provision of insurance cover, the price at which it is offered and the expiring of no claims discounts is a commercial matter for insurance companies and is based on an assessment of the risks they are accepting and adequate provisioning to meet these risks. These are considered on a case by case basis. Article 25 of S.I. No. 359/1994 European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework Regulations, 1994 expressly prevents the Central Bank from requiring the prior approval of the pricing, or terms and conditions of an insurance product.
With regard to previous claims history, Insurance Ireland has informed the Department of Finance that in general terms where there has been no motor insurance in an individual's name and there is a gap of cover of two years or more since their last insurance, the no claims discount is deemed invalid and that in the case of a returning emigrant the same principle would apply. However, Insurance Ireland have further informed me that if the individual can produce confirmation that they have been continually insured and are claims free in their own name whilst they were away this would be taken into consideration.
Insurance Ireland operates a free Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. Their service can be contacted at (01) 676 1914 or by email at iis@insuranceireland.eu.
76. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Finance if a person will be entitled to tax relief on medicinal costs incurred for necessary dental repair work, following the side-effects of a prescribed drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13667/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for relief for health expenses defrayed in the provision of health care by an individual on his or her own behalf or on behalf of others. For the purposes of that section, health care includes prevention, diagnosis, alleviation or treatment of an ailment, injury, infirmity, defect or disability.
Health expenses include the cost of
- The services of a practitioner,
- Diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of a practitioner,
- Maintenance or treatment necessarily incurred in connection with the services of a practitioner or related diagnostic procedures referred to above,
- Drugs or medicines supplied on the prescription of a practitioner, and
- The supply, maintenance or repair of any medical, surgical, dental or nursing appliance used on the advice of a practitioner.
Relief is available in respect of non-routine dental care which is provided by a practitioner registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 or the Dentists Act 1985 but routine dental treatment is specifically excluded.
Routine dental treatment is defined as: "the extraction, scaling and filling of teeth and the provision and repairing of artificial teeth or dentures".
Cosmetic surgery or similar procedures also do not constitute health care unless the surgery or procedure is necessary to ameliorate a physical deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury or a disfiguring disease.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the absence of more information in relation to the particular case referred to by the Deputy I am unable to give a definitive response to the query.
Further information in relation to relief for health expenses is available from the revenue website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it6.html.
