Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the correct rent allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3353/07]

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

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a rent supplement to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

The Executive has advised that the rent supplement claim of the person concerned is to be reviewed shortly and it will notify her of the outcome directly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if payment of exceptional needs is possible in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3355/07]

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

Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment.

The Dublin / Mid-Leinster Area of the Executive have advised that the person concerned had made an application for an ENP in September 2006 and again in January 2007 but was refused on each occasion as in the opinion of the HSE, payment was not warranted. The person concerned has been notified of the decision.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons in receipt of carer's allowance do not receive fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/07]

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

The national fuel scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive (HSE) payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Eligibility for the allowance is subject to means. The other main conditions that apply are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, and must either be living alone or only with a specified person.

Carer's Allowance is not a qualifying payment for a fuel allowance for a number of reasons. In many cases the care recipient will already be in receipt of fuel allowance in his/her own right and only one fuel allowance is payable per household. Secondly, the carer may not be living with the care recipient in all cases. I am satisfied that the current rules result in fuel allowances being paid in appropriate households. Any changes in the eligibility rules for the fuel allowance would have cost and other implications and would have to be examined in the context of the Budget and in the light of the resources available to me for improvements in social welfare generally.