Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the provisions made to enable persons on disability allowance to accept occasional or part time paid employment; if an exemption is provided for part time casual work or part time self-employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27589/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance is a means tested payment and any income earned by the claimant or his/her spouse or partner, is assessable as means.

There is, however, provision under social welfare legislation to give certain disregards of earnings received by the person from employment or self employment of a rehabilitative nature. The first €120 of earnings is disregarded, half of earnings between €120 and €350 is disregarded and all earnings over €350.00 are assessed as means.

In order to be considered for this disregard a person must furnish a letter from his/her doctor confirming the work is of a rehabilitative nature.

The person must also forward a letter from his/her employer confirming the date he/she intends commencing employment and the weekly amount he/she will be earning.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide statistics for the past five years on the numbers of insured persons who applied for and were refused or granted full reimbursement of the costs of cross-Border services under the Department's treatment benefit scheme, dental and optical, and occupational injury benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27768/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Treatment Benefit is a PRSI based scheme offering assistance towards the cost of Dental, Optical and Medical & Surgical (hearing aids) treatment for qualified patients. Legislation introduced in April 2005 allowed persons eligible for Treatment Benefits to have their treatment carried out elsewhere in the EU.

Any applicant for Treatment Benefit (EU) must contact the Treatment Benefit Office to request an application form. Only those applicants who qualify under this scheme are issued with an application form, so the Department do not actually receive claims from unqualified customers. Where further information is needed, this is requested from the patient before qualification is confirmed.

The amount of money reimbursed to the patient correlates directly to this Department's agreed 'Scale of Fees' and not the amount paid by the patient, unless this amount is lower than the 'Scale of Fees'. It is not a full reimbursement, only a partial payment. The table details the number of Treatment Benefit claims paid outside the state for each of the past 5 years.

The position in relation to Occupational Injury Benefit is not immediately available but the information is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the coming days.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding entitlement to rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27810/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The staff actions that prevented me from answering certain Parliamentary Questions over the last number of weeks have now been resolved. However, in the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when rent support will be awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28052/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The staff actions that prevented me from answering certain Parliamentary Questions over the last number of weeks have now been resolved. However, in the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.