Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the procedure to be followed to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who appeals a decision of his Department to refuse unemployment allowance receives a payment to provide for themselves in terms of food and so on; if, when the applicant presents themselves to the community welfare officer in such circumstances, the CWO has to provide such funding; if, despite the fact the appeal has been lodged and accepted by his Department, the CWO has the option to refuse such an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35108/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In August 2006, the person concerned applied for and was refused jobseeker's allowance from my Department. She appealed the decision of the deciding officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on October 18th 2006. Her appeal is currently being assessed by an Appeals Officer and she will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. SWA provides a safety net in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs is entitled to assistance under the SWA Scheme.

The Dublin Mid-Leinster Health service Executive has confirmed that two applications (in August 2006 and October 2006) for basic weekly supplementary welfare allowance payments have been made by the person concerned while her claim and subsequent appeal for jobseeker's allowance are being considered.

The Executive has further advised that it has been unable to make a decision in relation to these basic weekly supplementary welfare allowance claims, as it had not received documentation requested from the person concerned. The claim for basic weekly supplementary welfare allowance from the person concerned can only be processed when the requested information in relation to her application has been provided.