Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for back to school clothing and footwear allowance received to date in 2010; the number approved and refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year and is administered on behalf of my Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year.

While the closing date for applications for BSCFA was 30th September 2010, processing and payment of late applications is ongoing. At 15 October 2010 approximately 190,000 claims had been received by the HSE and in excess of 160,400 claims had been paid at a value of €77.46m. Current indications are that approximately 5,000 more families will benefit from the scheme this year.

Final figures in relation to the numbers of applications received and awarded for 2010 are not yet available from the HSE but based on previous years the average number of claims granted was 88% of claims received.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons previously self-employed who have applied for jobseeker's allowance to date in 2010; the number granted and refused; if he will consider easing the qualification criteria having particular regard to the current economic situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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At 15th October 2010, there were 8,406 jobseeker's allowance customers who made their claim after 1st January 2010 and who are categorised as having been self-employed prior to making their claim. Of those, 4,729 are awarded, 520 are currently disallowed and 3,157 are pending a decision.

Any changes to the qualifying criteria for jobseeker's allowance will be considered within a budgetary context.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer's allowance received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number granted, refused or on appeal ; if he intends to review or ease the qualification guidelines in view of the important service currently being provided by carers and the savings to the Exchequer in lieu of institutional care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39195/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

Carer's Allowance claims received, awarded, refused, appealed 2007 - 2010

I have no plans to review or to change the qualifying conditions for carer's allowance. The Government will continue to support carers within the resources available.