Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons collecting social welfare payments from the post office in Lucan Village and the post office in Dodsboro, County Dublin, who reside in the following estates (details supplied) and if she has satisfied herself that these post offices adequately service such a large number of persons, many of whom have to walk for up to two miles. [17509/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department currently issues approximately 3,350 payments each week for encashment at the Lucan and Dodsboro Post Offices. The Department also issues an additional 916 payments for encashment on a monthly basis at those two Post Offices. About 65% are paid at Lucan comprising 2,161 weekly payments and 599 monthly payments, while 35% are paid at Dodsboro, comprising 1,189 weekly payments and 317 monthly payments.

Precise information on the number of customers involved is not readily available as customers may be collecting more than one payment, for example Jobseeker's Allowance and Child Benefit. A breakdown of customers from the various estates listed by the Deputy is not available.

The Department is committed to providing a high quality service to our customers. We offer a range of payment options to customers including payment at the customers' designated local post office. Customers other than those in receipt of jobseekers payments can choose to be paid into either a bank or building society account or to certain credit unions that have been authorised by the banking and credit union regulators.

An Post is the principal agency through which payments are delivered to social welfare customers They currently have a network of 1,160 Post Offices and a further 181 postal agencies through which services are delivered across the country.

An Post has been advised of the Deputy's concerns regarding the distances people in the Lucan area have to travel to receive payments. I understand from An Post that the company has no plans to expand their network of post offices in the Lucan area at present, but they have assured me that their service throughout their network is constantly under review. They have also indicated that if and when it is deemed that a post office is both warranted and sustainable in the Lucan area, plans will be put in place to advertise a contract for the provision of those services.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17511/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) advised that it has received a claim for rent supplement from the person concerned. A decision in relation to entitlement will be made when the supporting documentation requested has been received.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance available to a carer of a person with a mental disability who provides transport for that person on an ongoing basis; his views that the provision of private transport is essential for those suffering from a mental disability as public transport is not an option for various reasons such as safety and availability and that this provision by the carer adds a financial burden to them which is causing severe hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17520/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department provides the carer's allowance and carer's benefit schemes for people who are providing full time care and attention to a person in need of such care. These payments are an income support for the carers while they are engaged in caring duties. They are not intended to cover the cost of the individual care needs of the person being cared for. In the majority of cases this person will be in receipt of a social welfare payment in his/her own right (e.g. State pension or disability allowance) and the additional supports required are available from the Health Services Executive. This may include assistance with transport costs in certain circumstances.

The Revenue Commissioners' disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme provides a range of tax reliefs for the purchase and use of vehicles by disabled drivers and disabled passengers. A family member of the disabled person can qualify for relief if he or she is living with and responsible for the transport of the disabled person in question and has acquired a vehicle for that purpose.

My Department also provides free travel to people aged 66 years or over, carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. I have no plans to provide for transport costs outside of this scheme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the serious hardship caused by the cessation of one parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if immediate steps can be taken in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17522/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned claimed one parent family allowance from 27 July 2006. Her entitlement was reviewed and her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer from 2 June 2011 on the grounds that she failed to submit documents requested by an inspector and that she is cohabiting with her partner.

She was informed of her right to appeal this decision but no appeal has been received to date. She was advised that the family may apply for family income supplement.

She was paid supplementary welfare allowance from 2 June 2011 to 8 June 2011 when payment was stopped as she was cohabiting with her partner.