Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 742: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a review will be undertaken on foot of a recent decision to refuse respite care grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who provides ongoing care and attention to their mother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1568/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The main condition for receipt of Respite Care Grant are that the person or persons in respect of whom the application is made must require full-time care and attention and that the applicant must be providing that care. The legislation provides that a person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where they require continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or to avoid danger to themselves.

The person to whom the Deputy refers submitted an application for a Respite Care Grant in respect of his mother and his brother. In relation to the applicant's brother, the Deciding Officer refused the application on the grounds that the care being given is in the nature of help around the house and farm which does not constitute the care and attention envisaged by the legislation. In relation to the applicant's mother, the application was refused on the grounds that her condition is not such that she requires the level of care envisaged by the legislation. The Deciding Officer based this decision on the advice of a Medical Assessor who reviewed the medical evidence submitted by her General Practitioner. Also, in relation to the applicant's mother, the Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the level of care he was providing was consistent with that envisaged in the Respite Care Grant legislation.

The above decisions were appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, which operates independently of my Department. The Appeals Officer examined all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at an oral hearing, and upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer. A decision by an Appeals Officer's is final, but can be revised if new evidence, new facts or any relevant change of circumstances come to light after a decision is made.

It is open to the person concerned to make an application for the 2008 Respite Care Grant, if he feels that he may qualify. The earliest date for receipt of any such application is 10th April 2008.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 743: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will make provision for free travel for returning missionaries who spend a period of less than 12 months in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1584/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. This includes people aged 66 or over, such as missionaries, returning from abroad to live in Ireland. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, also receive a free travel pass. The scheme is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension and who are resident here.

Legal advice indicates that it would not be possible to extend entitlement to free travel simply to Irish born people living abroad, when they return here for a visit, as to do so would be contrary to European legislation which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of nationality. More recently, the European Commission has indicated that to extend the scheme to people in receipt of an Irish pension could also be considered discriminatory.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 744: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent allowance support will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1634/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that a rent supplement has been awarded to the person concerned in respect of her current address from December 2007.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 745: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent support will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1638/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that a rent supplement has been in payment to the person concerned since February 2005. The Executive has further advised that the person concerned should contact the community welfare officer dealing with her claim if she wishes to have a review of the amount of rent supplement currently payable.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 746: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an exceptional needs payments can or will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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, 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.

In the case of the person concerned, the Dublin / Mid-Leinster Area of the Executive has advised that they currently have no request for an exceptional needs payment from him. It is open to the person concerned to approach the Executive should he wish to make an application for ENP support.