Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the carer's allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [17800/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 14 April 2005. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test that applies is satisfied. Her application was refused on the grounds that full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations was not required in this case. She was notified of this decision on 11 May 2005. She has been afforded the opportunity to request a review of this decision by sending to my Department any further medical evidence.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on 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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a diabetic allowance of €22 per month was stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will review the decision and restore the allowance. [17809/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Subject to certain conditions, including a means test, recipients of social welfare or Health Service Executive payments, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specific medical condition, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This scheme and other supplements are administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

The southern area of the executive has advised that during the course of a routine review of this case in November 2004, the then health board became aware that the person concerned had an occupational pension income in addition to her social welfare old age pension. When this previously undeclared additional income was taken into account the person concerned no longer satisfied the conditions for receipt of diet supplement on means grounds. The board, accordingly, terminated payment of her diet supplement in November 2004. She was advised at that time by the board of her right of appeal against this decision but she has not done so to date.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has to fill out an application form again for the carer's allowance even though they filled it out in 2004 and qualified for the carer's allowance. [17887/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was previously awarded carer's allowance at a reduced rate for the period August 2003 to 12 May 2004. However, due to a change in her circumstances she was disallowed carer's allowance with effect from 12 May 2004. She subsequently made contact with my Department again on 29 April 2005 seeking to have her claim reopened. Given the time span that has elapsed since she first applied for carer's allowance and the fact that her claim was terminated with effect from 12 May 2004, a new application form issued to her on 17 May 2005 for completion. This is my Department's standard procedure in cases where a considerable period of time has elapsed since a claim was terminated.

In the circumstances it will not be necessary for her to submit further medical evidence. However, it will be necessary that my Department is provided with current details of her spouse's income from employment. On receipt of this information and the completed claim form, her entitlement to carer's allowance will be further examined.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in deciding individual claims.