Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the cut in disablement pension which affects persons over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16671/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Disablement benefit, payable under the Occupational Injuries Scheme, is a compensation payment for loss of faculty arising out of or in the course of insurable employment. Disablement Benefit may be paid as a once off gratuity or in the form of a Disablement Pension which can be payable for life. Weekly rates of primary income support payments to those aged 66 and over were protected from the reductions in welfare rates provided for in Budget 2010. Disablement Pension is a compensation payment not a primary income support payment, so it is not excluded from these budgetary reductions. It should be noted that Disablement Pension is payable in addition to any other Social Welfare payment, including the State (Contributory and Non-Contributory) Pensions. It can also be paid to a person where he or she has returned to work.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason information (details supplied) was given in respect of a person in County Mayo. [16672/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The national fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive (HS E) payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. There is an income limit for the fuel allowance. An applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week or saving/investments of up to €58,000 above the appropriate maximum contributory rate of old age pension and still qualify for the allowance in the case of non means tested payments. There is no additional means test to qualify for fuel allowance for those already on a long-term means tested payment.

The person concerned applied for the fuel allowance when submitting his application for State Pension Contributory in December 2009. He did not complete the relevant Section of the form relating to his fuel application where details of his weekly income, savings, investments, rent from property or profit from any business (if any) were requested.

However, Departmental records were examined and these records showed that in 2008 the person concerned had a private pension of €14,047 per annum (€270.65 p.w.) in addition to his State Pension Contributory amount of €225.80 giving a total weekly income of €496.45. This is in excess of the income limit of €330.30 applicable to the person concerned, thereby making him ineligible for the fuel allowance. The person concerned was informed of this decision in letter from State Pension Contributory Section dated 11/1/2010. The person concerned should contact my Department if there have been any changes in his circumstances which would affect his entitlement to fuel allowance.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16680/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Due to staff action currently being taken in the HSE, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for constantly sending out questionnaires to child benefit recipients requesting the same information when the claimants are living and working here and this can be proven by the contributions paid under their PPS numbers; if he will introduce controls to ensure that persons are not asked for the same information on five or six occasions as is currently the situation; if his Department staff will acknowledge receipt of the information when it is submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16710/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a child benefit review form has issued on four occasions this year to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [16723/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 293 together.

As with all social welfare schemes, it is necessary to ensure that child benefit is paid to all those who are eligible and that the system is protected against fraud and abuse. Given the significant changes in the composition of the child benefit customer base, the control policy was reviewed to ensure that controls against fraud and abuse continue to be effective and relevant. Based on the evidence of this review, enhanced measures have been devised, which enable the automated issue of forms (certificates) to sub-sets of selected groups of customers for completion and return to the Department to confirm that they continue to satisfy the conditions for receipt of child benefit.

In the case of non-Irish national recipients who are resident in Ireland with their children, certification is requested that the children continue to reside here – the proof of such residence can be provided via details of the school or college their children attend or, if the children are not of school-going age, details of the doctor or crèche they attend. This information is used to verify that the children are resident in Ireland, as required under law. This group includes the person to whom the Deputy refers.

With regard to EU nationals who are working in Ireland but who have qualified children living in another EU state and who are entitled to Irish family benefits under EU law, certification by their employer of continuing employment is requested. The certification letters currently issue on a three monthly basis. Where the required certification is not provided within the timescale requested, 21 days, payment of child benefit is suspended pending further enquiry and ultimately terminated if confirmation of continued entitlement is not forthcoming.

The frequency of these requests will be kept under review in the light of the evidence. PRSI contribution data are not available in as timely a way as would be required, as records are updated annually. In addition, in most cases child benefit is paid to the mother and there may not be a link with the father's PPS No. which would make matching very difficult.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and paid the living alone increase. [16721/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for a Living Alone Increase on her Disability Allowance claim on 15 April 2010. A decision on her claim will be made shortly and she will be notified of the outcome.