Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31788/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A person may qualify for payment of back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) if he or she is in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment, is participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education or training course, has household income at or below certain specified levels and is in receipt of a qualified child allowance (QCA) in respect of each child for which payment is sought.

The person concerned is in receipt of a QCA payment from the Department in respect of one child and has received a BSCFA payment in respect of this child. The person concerned should contact the area of the Department that deals with his primary claim regarding his entitlements to a QCA payment in respect of his second child. His BSCFA claim can then be reviewed when this matter has been resolved.

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to a recent refusal of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance on the basis the applicant was €5 over the limit allowed, if she will review an application (details supplied) with a view to awarding an exceptional needs payment. [31810/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year.

Those customers who did not receive an automated payment were required to complete and return an application form to the Department. In all cases a letter issued to applicants informing them of the decision and, where payment has been awarded, when and where they could collect the payment. In the case of refusal of the allowance the procedures for review of the decision was outlined to customers. The persons concerned were refused BSCFA as their income was in excess of the limit allowed for their family composition. The persons concerned can request a review by contacting the BSCFA review section in Letterkenny. Details on how to request a review are available on the Department's website at www.welfare.ie or on the refusal letter that has been provided to the applicants.

Under Section 201 of the 2005 Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, the Department's representative administering Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) may make a single payment to meet an exceptional need to people on social welfare or health service executive payments. These payments are known as Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs). The person's concerned may wish to contact the Department's representative in their local SWA administrative office in order that an assessment of their entitlements can be examined.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a decision in relation to supplementary welfare allowance has been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31813/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, formally transferred to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP.

The Department's representative administering the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme has advised that additional documentation has been requested from the person concerned in order that they can finalise details relating to her claim. When the documentation has been provided the Department's representative will be in a position to examine her entitlements to SWA.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason the payment has been suspended; if it will be put back into payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31829/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, transferred formally to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP.

Payment of rent supplement has ceased as the person concerned is engaged in full-time employment.