Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the reduction in farm assist awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) is consistent with the percentage reduction announced in budget 2010. [3541/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of Budget 2009 the personal rate of farm assist was reduced from €204.30 to €196.00. This represents a decrease of 4.1%. The reduction in the persons farm assist rate is consistent with the decreases announced in the Budget.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria for the payment of the clothing allowance; and the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was asked to provide a doctor's letter in order for their application to be considered. [3565/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.

A single payment for the purpose of replacement of clothing and/or footwear under this scheme may be considered in special circumstances including :

Where the claimant or one of his/her dependants is suffering from a chronic ailment or serious disease which gives rise to a need for extra clothing or special footwear from time to time.

Where a person is going into hospital and does not have suitable clothing

Where a person leaves hospital or prison after a long period of time and has no suitable apparel

The person concerned recently contacted the HSE to apply for an allowance for clothing. In the opinion of the Community Welfare Officer the person concerned did not demonstrate that they had an exceptional clothing need. However, based on the circumstances of the case, the person concerned was asked to provide further evidence to support his claim for assistance, and was advised that evidence regarding his medical circumstances could be helpful in that regard.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3568/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department encourages people to engage in voluntary work within the State. Any person who engages in voluntary work may continue to be entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance provided that, in engaging in the voluntary work, the customer continues to satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. Examples of voluntary work in which jobseeker's may engage include:

helping the sick, elderly or persons with a disability

assisting youth clubs, church groups, sports groups, cultural organisations, local resident associations

The groups involved may be nationally organised groups or local voluntary or community groups.

The aim of the Voluntary Work Option is twofold, namely – to encourage voluntary organisations to involve jobseeker's to the greatest extent possible in their existing activities by creating new opportunities for voluntary work and to inform jobseeker's of their freedom to involve themselves in voluntary work and to encourage them to do so. In addition, the existing Community Employment Scheme, operated by FÁS, offers the opportunity to unemployed persons to participate in paid employment in the social economy.