Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded and paid the respite care grant. [31497/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The application for a Respite Care Grant from the person to whom the Deputy refers was received in my Department on 15th September 2006. It is currently being processed and a decision on the application will be made shortly with the person notified of the decision as soon as possible thereafter.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made in regard to an application for a single rent allowance payment by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31505/06]

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. The purpose of the scheme is to provide short-term income support, in the form of a weekly or monthly payment, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

The Executive has advised that it has received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. However, the Executive was unable to make a decision on entitlement as they are awaiting further information from the person concerned. The Executive has further advised that a decision will be made on her entitlement to rent supplement when the information requested has been received.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork with a view to granting the respite allowance based on new medical evidence sent to his Department; and if he will expedite the matter. [31570/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A decision not to award the Respite Care Grant in this case was made by a Deciding Officer. The medical assessor on examination of the medical evidence submitted with the application was of the view that the person being cared for was not so incapacitated as to require full time care and attention.

The person appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and this appeal was disallowed on the 23rd May 2006. Further medical evidence supporting the application was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office and has been reviewed by the Chief Medical Advisor. The application is currently with the Social Welfare Appeals Office awaiting a final decision.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position of the supplementary welfare allowance and rent allowance of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31599/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme including rent and mortgage interest supplements is administered on behalf of my Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

The Executive has advised that, following a routine review of the basic supplementary welfare allowance claim of the person concerned, it has suspended payment pending verification of the means of the person concerned. The Executive has also confirmed that it has received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned and further advise that a decision on this application and her basic supplementary welfare allowance entitlement will be made as soon as the position as to her means and household composition have been determined to the satisfaction of the Executive.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is receiving in unemployment benefit; if they are receiving the full amount; if not, the reason for same; the date their claim for unemployment benefit was first received in his Department; if there are arrears due to this person; and if so when will they issue. [31702/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 3 July 2006. When she made her claim she was asked to submit details of her redundancy payments. She was again requested to forward this information on 31 August 2006 and on the 8 September 2006. When the information was not received, her claim was closed and she was notified accordingly.

The person concerned made a further claim on 19 September 2006. She has been awarded unemployment benefit at the maximum weekly rate of €165.80 from 19 September 2006, based on that claim. However, she also provided some details regarding her redundancy payments and her entitlement to benefit from 3 July is currently being examined, in that context. A decision will be given as soon as possible and she will be notified of the outcome. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.