David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the financial supports which are available to cover funeral and other related expenses following the death of a person in residential care who had an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8414/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An exceptional needs payment may be made by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which it administers on my behalf, to assist with funeral costs. An exceptional needs payment can be made towards any exceptional, unforeseen and non-recurring expense which a person is unable to meet from his or her own resources. In the situation cited, the person with responsibility for meeting the funeral costs would apply to his or her local community welfare officer for assistance, if necessary, towards those costs.

There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment and the community welfare service makes a decision on each application on its merits. Neither I nor my Department has any role in determining entitlement in individual cases.

It is unlikely that a person in the situation cited by the Deputy would have the necessary social insurance contributions to enable a bereavement grant to be payable to his or her next of kin or personal representative.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 127: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the full rent allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [8417/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Subject to certain conditions, including a means test, rent supplements are available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

The south eastern region of the executive has advised that the person concerned had been in receipt of rent supplement up to October 2004. A subsequent claim for rent supplement from her was disallowed in December 2004, on the basis that her means were in excess of the statutory limit. She was informed of her right of appeal against this decision. No appeal has been received from her to date.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to rent subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8448/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Rent supplements are payable to eligible people by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, which administers the supplementary welfare allowance scheme on my behalf. To receive a rent supplement a person must satisfy the statutory condition that there is a housing need which he or she is unable to meet from another source.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned had vacated her local authority house. Her subsequent application for rent supplement was disallowed on the grounds that she had alternative accommodation available to her through the local authority. Her appeal against this decision was unsuccessful.

Further information has emerged about the medical condition of the person concerned and the executive has advised that it is reviewing her entitlement to rent supplement in the light of this information and that a decision on her eligibility for payment will be made shortly.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the change to the supplementary welfare allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8512/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The southern region office of the executive has advised that there has been no change in the amount of assistance being provided to this person under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, and that she is being paid at the maximum weekly personal rate. However, the person concerned has been requested by the community welfare officer to provide additional information to determine whether she continues to have entitlement to payment. Her entitlement will be reviewed on receipt of that information.