Written Answers Nos. 76-86
76. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will not be entitled to the social protection Christmas bonus for 2015; the disqualification criteria in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43221/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll clients in receipt of a long term social welfare payment are entitled to a Christmas bonus payment of 75% of the appropriate weekly payment amount.
The person concerned was employed on a Community Employment (CE) scheme from January 2010 to January 2015. Following cessation of their employment on the CE scheme, the client claimed, and was paid illness benefit from 19 January 2015 until 20 June 2015, at which time they were certified as being fit for work. The client subsequently made a claim for jobseekers benefit from 22 June 2015 and qualified for same on the basis of earnings and contributions paid while on the CE scheme. Jobseekers benefit remains in payment to the client currently at the rate of €188 per week.
As both illness benefit and jobseekers benefit are classified as short term payment schemes, the client is not entitled to the Christmas bonus.
77. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited due to financial hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43239/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Only PRSI contributions paid at class A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.
Following a review of the illness benefit application the person concerned has indicated he was last employed in the UK.
Where a customer was last employed in another EU country, that country is deemed to be the competent authority and the appropriate jurisdiction in which to make a claim. My department has written to the person concerned regarding this matter.
My department has passed his illness benefit application to our EU record section who will forward it on to the relevant EU authority for processing.
78. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the carer's benefit scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited due to financial hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43252/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my department has no record of a claim for carer’s benefit but has received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 17 November 2015 in respect of two care recipients. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
79. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the carer's allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [43299/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 9 November 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for a refusal under the disability allowance scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43319/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm an application for disability allowance (DA) was received from the person in question on 16 December 2014. The application was refused by a deciding officer as she was deemed ineligible for the scheme on both medical and habitual residency grounds. Notification of this decision issued on 25 March 2015.
The person in question appealed the disallowance of her DA application to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). Following due consideration, this appeal was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 4 November 2015. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date. An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 19 November 2015, why an application under the jobseeker's allowance scheme was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43325/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrevious PQs 35112, 40320, 42139 refer. The jobseekers allowance application of the person concerned was disallowed as he was not available at his stated address and as such his means could be determined. The person concerned was requested to provide the Department with documentation to support his application and to date has not provided same. He has been informed of his right to appeal this decision with the Appeals office. To date no appeal has been received by the Department.
83. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the domiciliary care allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43370/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was notified on the 27 November 2015 that her application for domiciliary care allowance was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from the 1 October 2015. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 15 December 2015.
84. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the action she will take to address the effective prohibition of marriages involving citizens from outside the European Union; if she is aware that the constitutional rights of Irish citizens are being denied as a result of the failure to fully implement the provisions of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43387/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was signed into law in December 2014 and contains a wide range of provisions.
The provisions related to preventing marriages of convenience taking place in the State were commenced on 18 August 2015. However, due to industrial action by staff of the Civil Registration Service in the Health Service Executive (HSE), the scheduling of interviews, where one or more of the parties to the proposed marriage is a non-EU national, is being delayed.
Staffing and resolution of industrial relations issues in the Civil Registration Service are a matter for the HSE. However I am concerned about the matter and my officials, while not directly involved in the dispute have made the HSE aware of these concerns.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be considered for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43420/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs detailed to the Deputy in reply to various previous Parliamentary Questions relating to this case, the client concerned has been requested on numerous occasions to provide the Department with details of all capital accrued from the sale of the family home. This documentation has not, to date, been received by the Department. A final reminder has issued to the client and this claim for Rent Supplement will be closed on the 21 December if same is not received by that date.
