Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 638: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted the household benefits package. [15036/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for the household benefits package on 13 April, 2007. The claim was refused as the conditions of the scheme were not satisfied. A person in receipt of a non contributory pension who is under age 66, may qualify for the household benefits package if his/her late spouse was at the time of his/her death in receipt of the package. The person concerned is under age 66. As her late husband was not in receipt of the household benefits package at the time of his death she has no entitlement to the package.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason restriction of free supplementary rent allowance has not been made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15051/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my department have any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. The Health Service Executive has been contacted and has confirmed that payment of rent supplement was suspended for the period the person concerned was absent from the State. The executive also confirms that it is reviewing the claim of the person concerned and will notify her of its decision shortly.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the unemployment payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was changed in view of the fact that they are only working for a limited number of hours each week; and the further reason they can not continue receiving unemployment benefit for the days they are not working. [15164/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to sign on for credits following their refusal for an unemployment payment. [15165/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.

The person concerned had been in receipt of jobseeker's benefit at the weekly rate of €185.80. Her jobseeker's benefit exhausted on 15 February 2007. On receipt of a new claim a Deciding Officer, having examined her work pattern, determined that her normal level of employment was 3 days per week and that she has not sustained a loss of employment. Consequently she is not entitled to jobseeker's benefit. Based on her current work pattern, the person concerned would be entitled to a paid PRSI contribution each week. Therefore, the need for credited contributions does not arise.

It is open to the person concerned to appeal the Deciding Officer's decision and a form for this purpose has been issued to her. 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.