Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department will be stopped from actively encouraging persons to transfer from the post office to the banks. [11548/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will reconsider his proposals regarding the continuation of all social welfare payments at rural local post offices throughout the country and the influence being exercised by his Department to encourage recipients to receive their payments through the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10003/05]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if all social welfare payments will continue to be paid [i]via[/i] the post office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his policy in relation to the move from payment books to electronic crediting of bank accounts for social welfare clients; the arrangements which have been made with financial institutions to ensure that social welfare recipients would not face unwanted bank charges as a result of the transfer; the typical saving in costs to his Department of moving from a payment book to an electronic transfer. [10461/05]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which he proposes to increase the number of welfare payments made electronically; and if persons wishing to continue to collect their payments via payable orders in An Post will continue to be facilitated once the proposed changes are introduced. [10805/05]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the importance of the viability of the post office networks that social welfare payments be made through the post office; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the post office is not listed as a payment method on some social welfare forms; his views on whether this method of payment is important for social and community reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11136/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 511, 513, 517, 527, 542 and 546 together.

My Department's policy is to ensure that a range of payment options is available to customers and that service is continually improved by providing access to the wide range of payment options and new services and facilities now available.

Current payment methods include payment at post offices by means of a pension order book, electronic or manual post draft issued to the customer's designated post office each week, payment by cheque to the home address of customers, and direct payment to customers' bank or building society accounts by electronic fund transfer. Where possible, my Department provides a payment option which best suits the needs of customers.

The option of having payments made at the post office is available for most schemes. In these cases the availability of the option is reflected in the claim form. Some short-term schemes, such as disability benefit, traditionally do not have a post office payment option and, therefore, that option does not appear on the claim forms for those schemes.

The growth in recent years in the number of customers opting for direct payments reflects the changing profile of my Department's customer base, the increasing use of electronic banking services in society generally, and the extension of the direct payment option to more of my Department's schemes.

Some 59% of customers currently receive payment through their local post office, 10% are paid by cheque through the postal system, mainly short-term schemes, and 31% receive direct electronic payment through their bank or building society account. An Post provides a direct payment option to Post Office Savings Bank accounts which, however, require a seven day advance notice of withdrawal.

Bank charges arising for customers availing of the direct payment option are a matter for each customer having regard to their personal banking arrangements. It is understood, however, that some financial institutions offer special facilities to elderly persons involving free banking or reduced banking charges.

In regard to transaction costs, my Department incurs a cost of €1.24 for each payment made through the post office network. There is no cost to my Department in respect of direct payments lodged to a customer's bank or building society account.

As I have already announced, a comprehensive review by my Department of its payment methods is currently under way to identify a system for the future that will respond most effectively to the individual needs of customers and deliver a service that is flexible and cost effective. This review will take full account of the effectiveness of the existing systems that are used, current trends and offerings in the financial services sector, and the rapid advances in card-based technologies.

The increased use of electronic systems will open up possibilities for improved service and greater efficiency in payment delivery generally in the future. I am aware that An Post is actively engaged in considering these possibilities and its future role in this regard. The Government is committed to maintaining a viable network of post offices throughout the country and the issues involved are under consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who is the Minister responsible for An Post.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to increase the months in which the free fuel allowance is given out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9941/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their extra heating needs during the winter season. A fuel allowance of €9 per week is paid to eligible households, with an additional €3.90 per week being paid in designated urban smokeless zones, bringing the total amount in those areas to €12.90 per week. Fuel allowances are payable weekly for a 29 week period from mid-October to end-April each year.

Significant increases in recent years in primary social welfare payment rates, such as the old age pension, have improved the income position for people dependent on the social welfare system. These rates are payable throughout the year and are intended to cover basic living costs, including cooking and heating, supplemented where applicable by the fuel allowance during the winter heating season. In addition, many households also qualify for electricity or gas allowances throughout the year under the social welfare household benefits scheme.

There are no plans at present to extend the period for which fuel allowances are payable each year. Any such changes in the scheme would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context in the light of other priorities.

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rent subsidy entitlements a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 would be entitled to if they will find a flat. [10004/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

In general, rent supplement is payable where applicants are assessed by a housing authority as being homeless, or have an unmet housing need, and where they are unable to meet their accommodation needs through their own resources. However, a detailed assessment of the particular circumstances is required in order to determine eligibility and rate of payment in any individual case.

The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that there is no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If he wishes to apply, he should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre for an assessment of his circumstances and eligibility.

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a person (details supplied) who is on supplementary welfare for about a year; and if they are due arrears of payment. [10005/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the person concerned had initially been awarded supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of an application by him for unemployment assistance. He subsequently applied to the Department for disability allowance. This application was refused on medical grounds and he has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Payment of supplementary welfare allowance to him is being continued by the executive pending the outcome of this appeal.

The executive has further advised that payment of the supplementary welfare allowance was stopped in error at the end of January 2005. When the error came to light, the allowance was resumed immediately and all arrears of allowance due were paid to him then.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 516: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [10012/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that this question relates to arrangements to have a social worker visit the person concerned to discuss her circumstances.

The provision and deployment of social worker services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the Deputy should raise the matter with the executive directly, or with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children who has overall responsibility for such services.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position whereby carers who receive an additional bonus for Christmas have indicated that the fuel allowance is taken from them; if this is the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10161/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's allowance is not a qualifying payment type for fuel allowance entitlement purposes and for that reason, fuel allowance is not paid to people on carer's allowance under the national fuel scheme. People in receipt of carer's allowance qualify for the Christmas bonus each year. The fact that fuel allowance is not payable to these recipients is not related to the fact that the Christmas bonus is paid.