Written answers

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to keep income limits for the diet supplement in line with increases in social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14924/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Diet 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.

Diet supplements are subject to a means test. The amount of supplement payable in individual cases depends on which of two categories of diet, low-cost or high-cost, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, and the income of the individual and his or her dependants.

The basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement remained unchanged between 1996 and 2004. Increases in social welfare rates and in the cost of special diets since 1996 had not been taken into account in assessing entitlement in individual cases.

With effect from 1 January 2004 the diet supplement scheme was restructured to take account of increases in both social welfare payment rates and the rate of food inflation since 1996. In the case of new applicants for diet supplement, the amount of supplement payable is based on increased up-to-date diet costs, €44 for lower cost diets or €57 for higher cost diets, less one third of the applicant's income or one sixth of the joint income in the case of a couple.

People who were in receipt of a diet supplement prior to the introduction of the revised regulations on 1 January 2004 continue to receive their existing rate of supplement until such time as there is a change in their circumstances that would warrant a review of their cases. Pending any changes I will make to the scheme, this year's increases in social welfare payment rates are disregarded in assessing entitlement in respect of new applications.

To inform future consideration of the scheme, my Department commissioned a study by an expert from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute. The study examined the special diets prescribed in legislation for which assistance is available through the existing diet supplement scheme.

The study also considered the appropriate level of assistance required to cater for any additional costs involved in providing for necessary special diets, relative to the cost of a normal healthy diet.

The findings of this research study have been assessed by my Department to determine how diet supplement assistance should be developed. I intend to finalise consideration of that shortly and to introduce regulations to update the scheme as necessary.

Photo of Liam TwomeyLiam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the orphan allowance is €121 per week but the foster allowance is €331 per week; if this discriminates against orphan children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14852/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The primary objective of the orphans payments administered by my Department is to provide income support in respect of children whose parents are deceased or who are unable and have failed to provide for them.

The weekly rate of payment is €121 per week. That is a substantially higher rate of payment compared with other payments made by my Department in respect of children. Foster carers, on the other hand, operate within a very specific framework, and the foster care allowance is intended not only to provide income support but to recompense foster carers for the expense incurred regarding looking after a child who would otherwise be in institutional care. Foster carers are therefore subject to rigorous scrutiny and ongoing monitoring by the health boards, and the children in their care are subject to a care plan. The foster care allowance paid by the health boards is paid at a rate of €297 per week, per child under 12 years of age, and €324 per week, per child of 12 years and over.

The two payment systems have, in my view, significantly different objectives, and I do not consider that there is a case for standardising payments in the area.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person who is in receipt of the invalidity pension is entitled to the respite care grant of €1,000; the conditions for eligibility for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14908/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The respite care grant is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention.

The receipt of a payment from my Department by the carer or the person being cared for, including invalidity pension, does not affect eligibility for the grant. However, both the carer and the person in receipt of care must satisfy certain conditions as follows.

The carer must be aged 16 or over, ordinarily resident in the State, caring for the relevant person on a full-time basis, living with the person being cared for, or, if not, contactable quickly by a direct system of communication between his or her home and the home of the person being cared for, and have been caring for the relevant person for at least six months, which includes the first Thursday in June.

The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention — medical certification is required — not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution, and not receive full-time care and attention within his or her own home from another person.

Application forms and information leaflets are available throughout my Department's network of local and branch offices and from citizens' information centres. Application forms and information leaflets will also be available from my Department's automated leaflet request line and website shortly.

Carers currently in receipt of either carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance or prescribed relative allowance, or if the person being cared for is in receipt of constant attendance allowance, will not have to apply for the grant, as it will be paid automatically.

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