Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of elderly people living alone who are reliant on social welfare pensions and the percentage for two or more elderly people living alone. [36373/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There are approximately 125,000 people aged over 66 currently in receipt of a living alone allowance with a social welfare pension.

Generally speaking, my Department does not have information available on the sources of income or the living arrangements of individual pensioners.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason one parent family allowance has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; his views on whether the alleged co-habitee does not live with the person as man and wife, does not provide for them or their family, other than in return for domestic chores, such as washing and providing meals and that they do not or have not resided in their household on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36408/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of a one-parent family payment at the maximum rate for a person with one qualified child dependant. In addition, she is also receiving the fuel allowance for the duration of the fuel season. My Department accepts that she has an ongoing entitlement to one-parent family payment and fuel allowance.

However, the person concerned did not have an entitlement for the period 1 January 2002 to 6 January 2006 as she was then residing with another person as husband and wife. An overpayment of EUR 32,372.40 has been assessed against her for monies received during this period.

A letter informing her of this decision and affording her the right of appeal issued to her on 25 October 2006. There is no record of her having appealed the decision.