Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will support the case of persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/10]

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.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons resident in Ireland and in receipt of invalidity and incapacity pensions from the UK are entitled to household benefits and free travel here; and if all residents here who came from EU countries are covered by these scheme under the EU regulation or Bi Lateral agreement. [19633/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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People resident in Ireland may qualify for the household benefits package (HHB) if they are aged 70 or over, or are getting carer's allowance, or are caring for a person who is receiving prescribed relative's allowance or constant attendance allowance. If they are between 66 and 70 they may qualify for HHB if they are receiving state pension (contributory), state pension (non contributory), widow's/widower's (contributory) pension, or an equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. They must live alone or only with certain "excepted persons".

If under 66 they may qualify for HHB if they are receiving invalidity pension, blind pension, incapacity supplement or workmen's compensation with disablement pension (for at least 12 months), disability allowance or an equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement and live alone or only with certain "excepted persons".

The free travel scheme is available to people aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. People resident in the State who are in receipt of a social security payment from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and who have been in receipt of this payment for at least 12 months, are also eligible for free travel.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when child benefit will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19662/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Letters issue on a regular basis to parents who receive Child Benefit as part of the Department's ongoing customer service and control work. Parents are asked to verify that they continue to reside in Ireland, that they continue to satisfy the conditions for Child Benefit and that all details held by the Department are correct.

Correspondence which issued to the person concerned in December 2009, to the address which she had provided to the Department, was not returned within the required 21 days and as a consequence the claim was suspended on 8 th February. On 11th February an incomplete certificate was received and further correspondence issued to the customer's address on 24 th February. The customer's spouse contacted the Child Benefit office on 14th April 2010 and stated that she and her children were on holidays in China.

As the customer was absent from the state without informing the Department, she must re-apply for Child Benefit and provide documentary evidence of when she and her children left and returned to Ireland. Application forms for this purpose were issued on 22 nd April 2010 and have not yet been returned.