Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an application for unemployment assistance or supplementary welfare will be authorised for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17545/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned submitted an application for Jobseeker's Allowance on 19 April 2010. The payment of Jobseeker's Allowance is subject to a means test. This person's Jobseeker's Allowance file was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector on 19 April 2010 for investigation, who will be in touch in due course. A person may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance from their local Community Welfare Officer while an application for Jobseeker's Allowance is being processed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason an application for social welfare in respect of child benefit, jobseeker's and so on continues to be refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [17546/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for a range of Social Welfare payments, including Child Benefit and Job-Seekers Allowance, applicants are required to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition (HRC), which was introduced on 1st May 2004. The HRC requires applicants to satisfy the Deciding Officer that they meet certain conditions, including that their centre of interest is in Ireland and that their future intentions, as demonstrated, are to remain in Ireland. The legal right to undertake employment and / or be self-supporting are factors considered by the Deciding Officer when the person's centre of interest and future intentions are being examined.

The person concerned is a Romanian national and, as such, is required to have a work permit to obtain employment in Ireland. She does not have such a permit. Child Benefit applications were received in August 2007 and August 2008 and both were disallowed on the grounds that the applicant did not satisfy the HRC. She was notified of the decisions in writing and advised of the right of appeal. No appeals were received. The person concerned has also applied for Jobseeker's Allowance on a number of occasions, the most recent being in July 2009. This application was also disallowed on the grounds that the applicant did not satisfy the HRC. She was notified of this decision in February 2010 and advised of the right of appeal. No appeal has been received in the Department.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will offer assistance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17568/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, is responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice, and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), funded by the Citizens Information Board, focuses on providing assistance, advice and intense support to people who have financial difficulties. The money adviser works out a budget with the client and negotiates on their behalf with all creditors, including financial institutions and sub-prime lenders, to secure better terms for the client in managing the repayment of their debts.

Where required by the client, the money adviser can assist with setting up a special account with a local Credit Union into which an agreed amount of money is lodged regularly and from which each month the money adviser makes the repayments to the creditors on behalf of the client. In this instance, I recommend contacting the MABS helpline on 1890 283438 for assistance or for referral to their local MABS office, details of which can be found by visiting www.mabs.ie Neither MABS, nor the Department, have a role in assisting with the discharge of a debt.