Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not entitled to the full rate allowable under the back to work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Participants on the back to work allowance scheme are entitled to the allowance for up to three years and retain their entitlement to other secondary benefits, or for four years if opting for self-employment commencing in year one at 100%. For employees, the rate of payment is as follows: year one, 75%; year two, 50%; and year three, 25%.

Participants who leave the scheme are allowed to resume at the point where they concluded. There are no circumstances whereby a claimant who has already exhausted full entitlement to the back to work allowance will re-qualify for the scheme. Neither are there any circumstances where a person can qualify for more than three years as an employee, or four years as a self employed person, on any claim or combination of claims.

The person concerned commenced employment on 20 January 1999. He left the scheme on 18 September 2001 and at that stage he was in receipt of payment at the 25% rate. In accordance with regulations when he resumed his participation on the scheme on 1 March 2006 the back to work allowance was made payable at 25%.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review his previous decision to refuse supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15214/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplements are available to eligible people through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

The HSE, Dublin mid-Leinster area, has advised that it has thoroughly examined all information available to it on the circumstances of the person concerned and has determined that she is not eligible for rent supplement on the basis that she is a full-time student. It has further advised that this decision has been upheld by the executive's designated appeals officer. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of the executive's appeals officer, the person may appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office; no such appeal has been received.

Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases.