Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused the jobseekers allowance in view of the fact that this person has had no income since November 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6346/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Jobseeeker's allowance is a means tested payment. To qualify for Jobseeeker's allowance a person must also be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 19 January 2007. A Deciding Officer assessed his means at €329.00 from 19 January 2007, derived from income from self-employment. This assessment exceeds the maximum weekly rate of jobseeker's allowance payable which in his case is €185.80. He is not, therefore, entitled to jobseeker's allowance. It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision and a form for this purpose was issued to him on 13 February 2007. The person concerned 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 regard to making such decisions.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on extending the 12 day deadline for collection of one parent family payment via electronic information transfer to a longer period, such as three weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6651/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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From February 2006, the majority of the one-parent family payment customers, who were previously paid by Personalised Payable Order (PPO) books, were transferred to a card-based payment known as Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) payment. These customers collect their payment at post offices, using their social services card. In general, the response to the change in payment method has been positive. From 16 February 2007 some 580 widowed persons, the remaining one-parent family payment cases, transferred to the EIT payment method.

Under the EIT system, payments are held at the Post Office and are available for collection for 12 days from the due date. The twelve day period allows the customer the flexibility to collect the payment at a suitable time in the given period. If the payment is not collected within the 12 days, it is returned to my Department. In circumstances where the customer has been unable to collect the payment, for instance due to illness, work commitments, holidays etc, arrangements are made to have the payment reissued by cheque to the person's home address as soon as possible.

Payment by EIT provides for enhanced services to our customers as changes in their circumstances (change of address, change of payment rate, etc) can easily and quickly be applied to their claims. Similarly changes to rates of payment arising from budget increases can be implemented more efficiently under electronic payment methods. One of the features of the EIT payment method is the Household Budgeting facility. This is a facility provided by An Post whereby a regular amount can be deducted from social welfare payment and transmitted by An Post to utility companies and local authorities to offset bills and rents.

In the light of experience of the EIT for one parent family payment my Department is reviewing the encashment patterns for the last 12 months and the situation regarding the 12 day limit will be examined in light of this review.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the one parent family allowance. [6659/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A Social Welfare Inspector is in the course of completing his enquiries in this case and will shortly forward his report to the Deciding Officer. The Deciding Officer will make a decision on this case on receipt of the report. 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.