Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who is a diabetic was refused a dietary allowance; and if same will be reviewed. [22335/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Recipients of Social Welfare or Health Service Executive payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This scheme and related supplements are administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), and neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to individual claim decisions.

The amount of supplement payable depends on which category of diet has been prescribed by the applicant's medical advisor, as well as the income of the individual and his/her dependents.

The Dublin/Mid-Leinster Area of the HSE has advised that the person concerned had been prescribed a diabetic diet, and applied to the Executive for a diet supplement in February 2005. In accordance with the regulations governing the scheme then, diet supplement was not payable on means grounds. This is because the cost of the prescribed diet was less than one third of his income. The Executive further advised the person concerned of his right to appeal against this decision to its Area Appeals Officer.

My Department commissioned a study by an expert from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute to inform a modernisation of the scheme. This study recommended a new framework for classifying various diets and I have introduced a revised diet supplement scheme and regulations which take account of the findings and recommendations of the study. Under the revised scheme, which came into operation in April of this year, diabetes is not classified as requiring one of the new prescribed diets but can be dealt with within a healthy eating diet, the cost of which is expected to be met from one third of the basic payment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if review of rent assistance will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22350/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the correct rate of rent supplement is in payment based on the information it has concerning the person's income. The Executive has further advised that it will review the rent supplement claim of the person concerned as part of a general review of rent supplements in the area. It will contact the person concerned regarding this review shortly.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly within the carer's respite grant where unpaid carers (details supplied) in County Wexford not in receipt of carers allowance are also not entitled to the respite grant. [22702/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The question refers to a situation where a person is not eligible for the respite care grant because she is employed for more than 15 hours per week.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care regardless of their income or whether they are in receipt of carer's allowance or carer's benefit. This arrangement was introduced to acknowledge the needs of carers especially in relation to respite. In Budget 2006, provision was made to increase the amount of the respite care grant from €1,000 to €1,200, from this month.

The full-time care and attention requirements for carer's allowance were relaxed from August 1999 to introduce greater flexibility into the carer's allowance scheme, while still safeguarding the needs and interests of care recipients. This allowed carers to work for up to 10 hours per week and it was introduced in recognition of the economic and therapeutic values of work. It also allows carers to maintain contact with the labour market.

From 1 June this year I extended the number of hours a carer can work to 15 hours per week. This applies to carer's allowance, carer's benefit and respite care grant. The care recipient must continue to receive full-time care and attention and be adequately cared for in the carer's absence.

The carer's allowance means test has been also eased significantly in the past few years, most notably with the introduction of disregards of spouses' earnings. Provision was made in Budget 2006 to increase the income disregard on the carer's allowance means test to €290 per week for a single person and to €580 per week for a couple from April this year. This ensures that a couple with two children can earn up to €32,925 per annum and still receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance. The same couple may earn up to €54,400 and receive the minimum rate of carer's allowance as well as the free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant.