Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

7:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if funding will be made available from the Office of Public Works to offset losses incurred due to flooding in County Mayo (details supplied) in view of the severity of the flooding involved. [42172/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

Under the legislation governing the scheme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) may make a single payment to meet an exceptional needs payment to people on social welfare or health board payments. This is a once-off payment to meet an unforeseen or special need that cannot be met from a person's basic income.

Assistance in the form of an Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) can be also made to persons who would not normally be entitled to SWA, top assist, for example in cases of flood damage where immediate needs, such as food, clothing, fuel, household goods and perhaps shelter, of the people affected may be met by a UNP in cash or in kind.

My Department's role in supporting the response to this particular flooding event will primarily involve supporting the community welfare service in the provision of ENP and UNP funding in the short term and other supports where applicable to cater for the long term effects of the flooding.

My Department has been in contact with the local representatives of the community welfare service in order to ascertain the immediate and long term effects of the flooding in this case. The local community welfare officer has visited the area and is available to provide assistance on an individual basis, where that is warranted.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive an extra payment. [42131/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for a Christmas bonus, a jobseeker's allowance customer must have been in receipt of the payment for a minimum of 390 days prior to 22 November 2006. The person concerned was in receipt of the payment for 352 days on 22 November 2006 and therefore, not entitled to a Christmas bonus payment.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the carer's allowance. [42132/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 30 August 2006. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test that applies is satisfied.

The person concerned was requested to forward a completed medical report in respect of the care recipient as well as other outstanding information necessary to process her application. On consideration of this report the application was refused on the basis that full-time care and attention was not required in this case. She has been afforded the opportunity to submit, further medical evidence so that the application can be further considered.

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.

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