Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 463: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is being paid unemployment assistance; and if not, if there is an active application on file for them. [35263/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance (unemployment assistance) on 19 October 2006. A Deciding Officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he is not genuinely seeking work. The person concerned failed to produce sufficient evidence of having looked for work from employers where work is available. He has appealed this decision and his file is with the Deciding Officer for review. He is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance. 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 making such decisions.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 464: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proportion of households in receipt of fuel allowance that are home owners, local authority tenants or in the private rented sector. [35268/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Some 264,400 people (145,800 with basic fuel allowance and 118,600 with smokeless fuel supplement) benefited from the national fuel scheme in 2005 at an annual cost of €85.4 million. It is estimated that some 274,000 people (151,000 with basic fuel allowance and 123,000 with smokeless fuel supplement) will benefit in 2006 at an estimated annual cost of €125.1 million. Eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme is subject to means and other conditions. The main conditions that apply to the allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with a qualifying dependant. Other than the conditions referred to above, a claimant's household circumstances are not relevant to the application process for fuel allowance and records of the accommodation of claimants are not maintained.