Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44639/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive (HSE), as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Rent supplement is not payable in respect of a person who is not lawfully in the State.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned has been refused rent supplement as she is regarded as not being lawfully in the State. The Executive has further advised that the person concerned has appealed against the decision to refuse rent supplement to the HSE Appeals Office. She will be contacted directly when a decision has been made on her appeal.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a rent subsidy has been stopped for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44495/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State scheme. A number of categories are specifically excluded from receiving SWA i.e. people in full-time work, people in full-time education and people involved in trade disputes.

Apart from the excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a habitual residency condition and a means test or who is awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare or HSE payment may qualify for basic supplementary welfare allowance. In addition, a person can also apply for payments such as rent supplement where s/he is in receipt of a social welfare or basic supplementary welfare allowance payment.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned was in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement while awaiting a decision on an application for jobseeker's allowance. His claim for jobseeker's allowance is now closed on the basis that documentation requested by the Department has not been provided. Payment of supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement has been suspended pending investigation by the community welfare officer of his continued entitlement to these payments. The Executive has advised that he should contact the community welfare services directly in order to discuss his entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the changes due to be made in so far as eligibility for the old age contributory pension is concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44508/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Green Paper on Pensions sets out and discusses a range of issues that have been raised from time to time in relation to state pensions and their coverage.

Following the completion of the Green Paper consultation process, a framework for future policy on all aspects of pensions is being developed. The qualifying conditions for state pensions are an important element in this process but it is not possible at this stage to say what reforms will form part of the final policy framework.