Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 394: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when payment of the respite care grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20677/05]

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

An application for the respite care grant from the person concerned was received in the respite care grant section within my Department on 3 June. The section is processing claims received during May. It is expected that decisions on claims received in June will be made in July and applicants will be advised immediately thereafter.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 395: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for the free schemes. [20764/05]

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

The person concerned has been awarded the household benefits package including electricity allowance, free lifetime television licence and telephone allowance with effect from 25 October 2004. Her service provider has been notified to apply the electricity allowance to her account from that date. She is entitled to a refund in respect of her current television licence which she purchased in April 2005. A payable order will issue to her as soon as possible. My Department has made contact with her with a view to making the necessary arrangements to have the telephone allowance applied to her account.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 396: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason it is the policy that both child benefit and family income supplement are stopped from the end of May for parents of children who have finished school but who are sitting the leaving certificate in June of the same year; and if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20765/05]

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

Child benefit is payable generally to the mother in respect of children who are under 16 years of age, or aged between 16 and 19 and either disabled or in full-time education. Child benefit is paid up to the date certified by the school or college that the child is attending, which in most cases is the end of the academic year in June. The child benefit year runs from June to May and in cases where a child is certified as being in full-time education to June, a payment is made for the month of June by either a renewal book, containing a single voucher, or directly into the customer's bank account.

The procedure regarding family income supplement, FIS, is where a person has a claim for an only child and that child reaches 18 in April or May a form is issued which is to be stamped by the school. Where the child is sitting the leaving certificate, family income supplement is paid until the end of June. Otherwise FIS is paid until the end of May. Where there are other children in the household, the fact that the child reaches 18 does not affect the FIS payment and it continues to be paid at the same rate until the end of the normal 52 week payment period unless the child signs on for unemployment payment in his or her own right.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 397: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the rent allowance appeal will be decided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if an early decision will be made taking into consideration her present situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20963/05]

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

The Dublin mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that it received an appeal last week from the person concerned regarding its refusal of her application for rent supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. A file on the case is being prepared by the community welfare service for the relevant Health Service Executive appeals officer who will make a determination on her eligibility as soon as possible. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome directly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 398: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the rent supplement rate will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20964/05]

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

The Dublin mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that it finalised its review of the amount of rent supplement payable in this case to take account of recent changes in the family's circumstances. Based on the new level of household income the executive has determined that the amount of rent supplement payable to the person concerned is €828.20 per month. The executive has further advised that it will issue an arrears payment to her at the end of this month in respect of the period from March 2005 to June 2005 inclusive.