Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 758: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the back to school allowance has not been approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25638/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, BSCFA, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The executive has advised that it has no record of an application for BSCFA from the person concerned. If she wishes to apply, she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre as soon as possible to enable her entitlement to an allowance to be determined.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 759: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the case of maternity benefit, his Department is willing to make an exception to the rules when a child is born prematurely, is seriously ill and has not been discharged from hospital by the time maternity leave ends; his views on whether this puts couples in a difficult situation; the alternative allowances available to persons in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25647/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was paid the maximum 18 weeks maternity benefit from 14 January 2005 to 19 May 2005. As her baby was born prematurely, her maternity leave and payment of benefit commenced from the date of birth of her child. There is provision, under current regulations, to postpone the last four weeks maternity leave or benefit in the event of the hospitalisation of the child; however, the person concerned did not avail of this option.

While the rules of entitlement to maternity benefit are specified in legislation and there is no provision for additional payments in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, I intend to keep this benefit under regular review in order to minimise the difficulties couples may face in exceptional circumstances.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 760: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and expenses encountered by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo with regard to child care costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25833/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is in receipt of one-parent family payment since June 2002 at a rate of €158.10 per week in respect of herself and one dependent child. She also receives a fuel allowance of €9 per week for the duration of the winter heating season. One-parent family payment is a means tested scheme to provide income support for unmarried or separated people with children. The means assessment rules for the scheme contain significant earnings disregards for lone parents who wish to take up part-time or full-time employment, partly to reflect the extra travel and child care costs involved. There are also disregards for any family maintenance received.

In addition, a working lone parent would be eligible to apply for family income supplement, payable at varying rates according to earnings and family size. The main form of State child care assistance is through the equal opportunities support programme operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This programme is organised on a county basis and is specifically designed to assist low-income or otherwise disadvantaged parents moving into the workforce.