Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons (details supplied) in County Clare has not received the supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31725/05]

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. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement to a supplement in individual cases. The mid-western region of the HSE has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of full entitlements. The person applied for a diet supplement in 2001 and was awarded an amount based on the household income at the time and the application of the diet supplement scheme rules.

The rate of diet supplement in payment was based on his income from disability allowance. The person concerned subsequently transferred to an old age pension and his entitlement to diet supplement was reviewed to take account of the increase in his income, in accordance with the scheme rules. Following the review, his diet supplement was reduced in June 2005.

The Health Service Executive is not aware of any outstanding application by the person concerned for supplementary welfare allowance.