Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if measures were put in place to compensate persons on State benefit whose child benefit was cut in the budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27568/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Child Benefit assists parents in the cost associated with raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty. Between 2000 and 2009, overall expenditure on Child Benefit grew from just €638 million to approximately €2.5 billion per year. However, with tax revenues having fallen dramatically, we cannot afford to maintain spending at this level.

The Government is conscious that the payment can be an important source of income for all families and so decided against withdrawing Child Benefit completely from any family and that it was fairer to reduce the Child Benefit rates across the board, while fully protecting up to 420,000 children in families who are dependent on social welfare or in low income employment.

Families with children who are dependent on social welfare have been fully compensated for the reduction by getting from January 2010 an extra €3.80 per child per week in the value of the Qualified Child Increase paid with the principal payment. Families, who currently receive a half-rate Qualified Child Increase, because they have other household income and so are not totally dependent on welfare, have received from January 2010 an extra €1.90 per child per week.

The Family Income Supplement income thresholds have also been increased since January 2010 in order to compensate low-income working families for the cuts in Child Benefit. FIS is paid for 52 weeks if the recipient continues working for at least 19 hours a week or 38 hours a fortnight. The new thresholds are being used to calculate the value of FIS claims since January. For existing claims, in line with standard practice on FIS, the level of payment for existing FIS claimants will remain at their pre-budget level but may change in line with the family circumstances at that time if the payment is renewed during the year.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will deal with the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27581/10]

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.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27610/10]

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.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27613/10]

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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27640/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is no longer payable in this case as the child in question reached sixteen years of age in May 2010 when entitlement to DCA ceases as does the automatic entitlement to a Respite Care Grant. The person in question may, however, still qualify for a Respite Care Payment if she satisfies the qualifying conditions of the Respite Care Grant scheme. These include amongst others, caring for a person on a full-time basis for a period of at least 6 months. Details of the scheme and application forms are available on the Department's website, www. welfare.ie or from a Social Welfare Local Office or Citizens Information Centre.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had their supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement discontinued when they were accepted on the back to work enterprise allowance scheme; if same will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27642/10]

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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had their supplementary welfare allowance discontinued; if same will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27643/10]

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.