Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will abolish the means test for the carer's allowance; if eligibility will be determined on the basis of the amount of care needed by the person being cared for instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42250/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the spouse of a person who is on a rural social scheme and are claiming for their spouse as an adult dependent, can apply for a carer's allowance in their own right. [42291/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together.

Supporting and recognising carers in our society is and has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended. In line with other social assistance schemes, a means test is applied to the carer's allowance so as to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need. This means test has been eased significantly over the years.

Following Budget 2006, the earnings disregard for a couple has been set at €580 per week which is equivalent to gross average industrial earnings. As a result of further improvements which I announced in the Budget 2007 this disregard will increase to €640 per week for a couple from April 2007. When this increase is in place a couple with two children will be able to earn up to €36,240 and still qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. This measure surpasses the commitment in Towards 2016 to ensure that those on average industrial earnings can continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

I understand that eligibility for the Rural Social Scheme which is administered by Pobal is generally linked to eligibility for a social welfare payment. As a general rule only one weekly social welfare payment is payable to an individual. Persons qualifying for two social welfare payments always receive the higher payment to which they are entitled.

From June 2005, however, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care regardless of their income. Those persons in receipt of other social welfare payments, excluding jobseeker's assistance and benefit, are entitled to this payment subject to meeting the full time care condition.

In the recent Budget I provided for a very significant reform which will enable people in receipt of a social welfare payment other than carer's allowance or benefit who are providing full time care and attention to retain their main payment and receive another payment up to a maximum of a half rate carer's allowance. The improvements for carers which I announced in Budget 2007 are further evidence of the Governments commitment to improving the position of family carers and those they care for.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an appeal can be opened and an oral hearing scheduled immediately for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in relation to their claim for carer's allowance in view of the serious medical condition of their care recipient. [42319/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was refused the Carer's Allowance on the grounds that full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations is not required in this case. On 27 November 2006 he was notified of the decision, the reason for it and of his right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The arrangements for an appeal are now being made. 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.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons in receipt of disability benefit payments from his Department are not entitled to the Christmas bonus payment from his Department, as is the case for other social welfare recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42453/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A special Christmas Bonus payment was first introduced in December, 1980, for social welfare pensioners and people who depend solely on their social welfare payments for income support. There have been a number of developments in this scheme since its inception, including changes in the level of the bonus payment, the introduction of a minimum payment and the extension of the categories of eligible claimants.

The Christmas Bonus has again been paid this year to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments, at a rate equivalent to 100% of the person's normal weekly payment, subject to a minimum payment of €30. The cost of this measure is an estimated €157 million this year, and it benefited some 1.25 million persons comprising 855,000 recipients and 394,000 dependants. The focus of the bonus has always been on persons who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. These include recipients of State pension (transition), State pension (contributory and non-contributory), widow's, widower's and invalidity pensions, one-parent family payment, carer's allowance, disability allowance, long-term jobseeker's allowance, farm assist and people in receipt of employment support payments.

As carer's benefit is now payable for up to 2 years, the bonus was, for the first time this year, paid to recipients of this benefit. The bonus is also payable to participants in the rural social scheme, which was introduced in 2004, and operates under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. There are no plans at present to amend or extend entitlement to the bonus payment to short-term schemes, and any such extension could only be considered in a budgetary context having regard to the resources available and the significant cost which would be involved. In relation to illness benefit, it is open to persons who have been in receipt of illness benefit for at least a year to apply for invalidity pension, and, if they qualify for the pension they would also qualify for the Christmas Bonus payment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in relation to disability benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42495/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 19 September 2006. Qualification for disability allowance depends on an applicant passing a means test and fulfilling certain medical conditions. An applicant must be substantially restricted by reason of a specified injury, be suffering from an injury, disease, illness or physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year and, as a result, substantially restricted in undertaking suitable work.

The applicant concerned was examined by a Medical Assessor of my Department and the file was referred to a Social Welfare Investigator for determination of his means. The person's file, including the investigator's report on the person's means, is being forwarded to a Deciding Officer for a formal decision on the application. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the full fuel allowance. [42514/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The pensioner referred to in this case is in receipt of the maximum rate of state pension (non contributory) of €192.00 weekly, for a person aged over 80 and is also in receipt of living alone increase of €7.70 weekly. His application for fuel allowance has been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector of the Department for investigation. The Social Welfare Inspector will be in touch with him in the near future regarding this claim. On completion of the necessary enquiries a decision will be made and the pensioner will be notified of the outcome without delay.