Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons male and female in receipt of an illness benefit or allowance payment; the numbers for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12449/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. There are over 91,000 persons currently in receipt of DA — 54,800 male and 36,500 females (figures as at 28 February 2008).

Illness Benefit (formerly known as Disability Benefit) is a payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. There are over 71,000 people in receipt of Illness Benefit — 25,800 male and 45,900 female (figures as at 28 February 2008). The table shows the number of persons in receipt of disability allowance and illness benefit for each of the past five years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of instances whereby a social welfare payment has been terminated in the past 12 months; the number that requested an appeal; the figures for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12450/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is seeking information on the number of payments that were terminated by my Department as opposed to payments terminated, such as, at the request of a customer or where entitlement ceased at the end of a defined period of entitlement. The tabular statement sets out the number of payments that were either reduced or terminated in each of the past 5 years as a result of my Department's control work. Information on the number of payments terminated by my Department in the past 12 months is not currently available. It is not possible to determine the number of payments that were reduced or terminated and which subsequently gave rise to an appeal.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of respite grants received, approved or disallowed in each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12452/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Details of Respite Care Grant (RCG) applications received, approved and disallowed by month, for the 12 month period from April 2007 to March 2008, are shown in tabular form. Differences between total applications received and those decided are due to the fact that some RCG applications are ultimately decided as part of a claim for Carers Allowance or Benefit. In addition some cases require further enquiries to finalise entitlement.