Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to issue all social welfare payments directly into bank accounts rather than by way of payable order books; if he has examined the effect this possible proposal will have on people living in rural areas several miles from their nearest banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13084/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The policy of the Department of Social and Family Affairs is to ensure cost-effective arrangements for making payments through a range of payment options and that the service is continually adapted by providing access to new payment services and facilities as they become available. Customers opt for a particular payment method having regard to their personal preferences.

The range of payment options offered by the Department include payment at post offices by means of a pension order book and by electronic or manual post draft, issued to the customer's designated post office each week. Payments are also made by cheque to the home address of the customer and direct payment to the customer's bank or building society account. Some 56% of customers have chosen to receive payment through their local post office, 9% are paid by cheque through the postal system and 35% have chosen to receive direct electronic payment to their bank or building society account.

Last year I announced a review of the Department's payment methods. The review will consider all current payment options and it will identify solutions to ensure high-quality payment delivery services for the future.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 288 of 28 March 2006 and 469 of 21 March 2006 regarding a person, the accommodation that will be provided for his spouse and children who are homeless while this person is in jail; if the €200 fine will be paid to allow him to be released to his family; if the services will be allowed to pro-actively support this family as they have no means and cannot afford a flight back to Germany; if the habitual residency condition will be parked to allow this human tragedy to be dealt with in a humane fashion; if he will issue instructions to have the matter dealt with in a pro-active and positive way. [13189/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, administered on my behalf by the community welfare staff of the Health Service Executive, is one of several social assistance schemes which, with effect from 1 May 2004, is subject to a habitual residence condition.

The Health Service Executive was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the persons concerned were refused supplementary welfare allowance on the grounds that they did not satisfy the habitual residency condition. The executive has further advised that given the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case, it has provided for the accommodation and basic living costs for the family of the person concerned pending the result of court proceedings on 4 April 2006. The executive has also advised that it is not in a position to use the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to pay costs arising from legal proceedings. However, it will fund the family's repatriation costs following the court hearing in view of the exceptional circumstances in this case.

I am satisfied that, given the circumstances surrounding this case, the Health Service Executive has done everything within its powers to provide for the needs of the family concerned, in keeping with the Government's policy on access to the social welfare system by people not habitually resident in Ireland.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the orphan's allowance is fully assessable as means when determining eligibility for social welfare allowance while a social welfare claim is pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13235/06]

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.

Where a person who is caring for an orphan applies for supplementary welfare allowance, orphan's pension or allowance payable in respect of the orphan is not assessed as means as it is regarded as being for the benefit of the orphan.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department will accept a repayment proposal made by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to the local social welfare office in respect of the overpayment of their unemployment assistance and benefit. [13236/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A deciding officer disallowed the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned from 16 January 2001 to 23 September 2003, on the grounds that he was not unemployed for this period. Consequently, an overpayment of €14,486.46 was assessed on his claim. An initial letter regarding this decision and the overpayment arising was issued to him on 4 December 2003. Following contact with the local social welfare office on 24 March 2006, the person concerned has been asked to call to the local office to discuss the matter and make arrangements regarding the recovery of the overpayment.