Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons currently on disability allowance; the number who have been disallowed in the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23450/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Disability Allowance is a weekly Allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. There were 97,652 persons in receipt of Disability Allowance at the end of May 2009. A total of 27,639 applicants were disallowed Disability Allowance over the last four years 2005 to 2008.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 52: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for invalidity pension rejected in the past 12 months on the grounds of insufficient insurance contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23452/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the past 12 month period a total of 422 Invalidity Pension applications were refused on the grounds of insufficient insurance contributions. The PRSI contribution conditions for Invalidity Pension require that the claimant must have a total of 260 contributions paid at the appropriate rate (class A, E or H) since entry into insurable employment and 48 paid or credited contributions in the governing contribution year, which currently is the 2008 tax year. Where a claimant has no reckonable contributions paid or credited for two consecutive years, he/she is not entitled to the payment of Invalidity Pension until 26 qualifying contributions have subsequently been paid.

If a person does not satisfy the PRSI conditions for Invalidity Pension based solely on their Irish social insurance record and they have worked in another country covered by EU regulations, periods of insurable employment in that country can be taken into account to help satisfy the qualifying conditions. Periods of insurance in a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement can also be taken into account to help qualify for an Invalidity Pension.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 53: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure adequate funding to meet the requirements of carers in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23453/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In Budget 2009, I increased the rate of carer's allowance for those aged 66 or over by €7 to €239 per week and for those aged under 66 by €6.50 to €220.50 per week. These increases took effect from January 2009. Recipients of carer's allowance are also eligible for household benefits and free travel and the respite care grant. Income support schemes administered by the Department are demand driven and are allocated on the basis of qualifying criteria. If a person meets the criteria for a scheme, including those schemes that provide income support to carers, they will receive a payment. The Department estimates that combined expenditure on carer's allowance, carer's benefit, the respite care grant and half-rate carers will be €650 million in 2009.