Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted disability allowance. [24178/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was in receipt of disability allowance up to 21 July 2004 when his claim was disallowed. He is being paid supplementary welfare allowance. The principal conditions for receipt of disability allowance are that the medical eligibility conditions for receipt of the allowance are met, the means test which applies is satisfied and the person is resident within this jurisdiction. The case of the person in question was forwarded to the investigative officer to establish whether the conditions for receipt of the allowance were satisfied. His entitlement to disability allowance is being further considered in light of the investigative officer's report and a formal decision will be issued to him directly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the resources it is presumed a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is reputed to have available to them in view of the fact that the person's case has not been resolved to their satisfaction and keeping in mind the possibility of severe hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24209/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There is a statutory obligation on all claimants of the one-parent family payment to satisfy, and continue to satisfy, the conditions for entitlement to the payment. In the case of the person concerned, she was requested during the investigation of her claim to provide documentation regarding her means. She failed to provide this information and her application was refused last month on the grounds that she failed to fully disclose her means. The person concerned subsequently informed the Department that she had changed address and provided some documentation on her means. Her application has been re-examined and is being referred to a local officer for interview at her new address. On completion of the necessary inquiries a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was being assessed on the person's parents income. [24247/04]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is only receiving €40.80 per week in unemployment assistance; the way in which this rate of payment is calculated; and the full breakdown of the means assessment calculation. [24406/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 380 together.

In the case of wage earning families the method of calculation of the assessment of means of an unemployment assistance applicant under 27 years of age who is living at home takes account of the net parental income after deductions for rent or mortgage repayments and a parental allowance. The remainder is then divided among the dependent members of the household on an equal basis. To ensure that this assessment is realistic, a limit of 17% of the net family income is applied.

In the case of the person concerned 17% of the parental income of €551.95-€571.95 less travel expenses of €20 — was applied giving weekly means of €94. This assessment entitles the person concerned to a weekly unemployment assistance payment of €40.80. The person concerned may have an entitlement to unemployment benefit. She has been asked to provide information regarding her previous employment. On receipt of this information her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be examined.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department operates or funds school completion programmes or other programmes that may have an emphasis on keeping children in school; if such programmes exist, the way in which a school may apply for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24372/04]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department offers assistance, financial or otherwise, to schools or other groups or agencies in an attempt to improve the school completion rate for primary and secondary school children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24512/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 383 together.

Assistance with regard to attendance at school is provided by my Department through the school meals programme and the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme. The school meals programme provides funding for the urban school meals scheme, which operates in conjunction with certain local authorities, as well as for a number of locally operated school meals projects in place in both urban and rural areas.

The local projects scheme targets post-primary schools with students most at risk of early school leaving as well as their feeder primary schools. The scheme also assists pre-schools and community groups which provide school meals for disadvantaged children. My Department is working with the Department of Education and Science to extend the school meals programme, using that Department's schools completion programme and Giving Children an Even Break initiative to target disadvantaged schools.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides assistance towards the cost of school clothing and footwear for children attending mainly primary or post-primary schools.