Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the correct amount of rent allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24217/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has been awarded rent supplement of €771 per month which is his full entitlement based on his personal circumstances. The HSE has further advised that payment for the period 1st August to 30th September has been approved and will issue on 29th September.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be eligible for jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24218/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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When he is certified fit for work the person concerned should re-apply for jobseeker's allowance so that his eligibility can be established.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the extent to which investigations have concluded into the determination of entitlement to an increase in old age pension based on further information submitted to his Department in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24219/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The qualifying conditions for a State pension (contributory) require the applicant to · have entered into insurable employment before the age of 56 years

· have at least 260 weeks full-rate contributions paid, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance

· satisfy the yearly average condition

The person concerned satisfies the above conditions. He has a yearly average of 19 PRSI contributions from his date of entry into insurance in July 1962 to the end of 2010, the last complete tax year before his 66th birthday. He has been awarded a State pension (contributory) at the weekly rate of €172.70 (75% of maximum rate) plus €14.90 increase for a qualified child (in order to qualify for the maximum rate a yearly average of 48 contributions would be required).

The Department wrote to the person concerned on 24th May 2011 requesting him to supply further details of his employment history. A response has not been received to date. A further communication has issued to him requesting these details. When the Department receives this information, his claim will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment for disability allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24220/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case.

There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. In the context of dealing with the considerable number of appeals now on hand, the Department made 9 additional appointments to the office earlier this year.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but she will be informed when arrangements have been made.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment will issue in respect of a carer's benefit application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24223/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27th July 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 4th August 2011 and the appeal has now been assigned an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for refusal of payment in respect of an application for mortgage rent support in the case of a person (detail supplied) in County Westmeath; if an appeal can be commenced in respect of their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24226/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the anti-social behaviour on the part of certain tenants in private rented accommodation, in receipt of rent supplement, if she will consider it part of her remit to initiate a system of checks on same. [24227/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to review the operation of the rent supplement scheme with a view to introducing a code of conduct for rent supplement eligibility similar to that which operates for local authority tenants. The purpose of this review is to ensure that tenants who are receiving long term support from the State under the rent supplement scheme are subject to the same type of anti-social behaviour regime as local authority tenants. The most appropriate way for this to happen is for local authorities to take over responsibility for meeting the accommodation needs of these individuals. My Department is currently working with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to achieving this goal.