Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in education cannot receive a rent subsidy payment from the Health Service Executive to provide a permanent home for the person and the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43221/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), provides for the payment of rent supplement to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs. The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been refused rent supplement on the grounds that she is not eligible for payment as she is not in receipt of a social welfare payment and is currently participating in full-time education. People in full-time education are excluded from receiving income support, including rent supplement, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, unless they are in receipt of a back-to-education allowance.

The person concerned has been advised by the community welfare officer of her right to lodge an appeal with the HSE Appeals Office against the decision to refuse rent supplement. The Executive has also advised that rent supplement was paid, as an exceptional measure, while the person concerned was awaiting a decision on her application for back-to-education allowance, which was subsequently refused.