Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 760: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of Irish citizens denied a social welfare payment in 2009 based on failure to satisfy the habitual residence condition. [1391/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 765: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of Irish citizens denied social welfare benefits in 2009 for failure to satisfy the habitual residence condition; the number of these who were returning Irish emigrants from abroad; the number whose prior residency was in Northern Ireland; and the number whose prior residency was elsewhere in the common travel area. [1488/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 765 together.

The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004.

All applicants - regardless of nationality - for the following payments are required to be habitually resident in the State: · Jobseeker's Allowance · State Pension (Non-Contributory for persons aged over 66) · Blind Pension · Widow's, Widower's and Orphan's Non-Contributory Pensions · One-Parent Family Payment · Carer's Allowance · Disability Allowance · Supplementary Welfare Allowance (including Rent Supplement) · Domiciliary Care Allowance · Child Benefit

The total number of Irish citizens disallowed social welfare payments in 2009, based on the failure to satisfy the habitual residence condition was 738. The following table sets out the breakdown by social assistance scheme.

It is not possible to state the number of these cases who were returning Irish emigrants from abroad, or whose prior residency was in Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the common travel area as these details are not recorded.

Statistics on the number of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) claims that do not satisfy the habitual residence condition are not maintained by the various HSE areas.

However, it is estimated that approximately 1.5% of all SWA claims are disallowed for HRC reasons. It is open to any customer who is not satisfied with the decision on their claim to appeal that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals office.