Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the grounds on which back-to-school allowance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if that decision can be appealed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33646/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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One of the conditions for receipt of a Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment is that the applicant must be in receipt of a qualified child allowance in respect of the child in question. Departmental records show that no such increase is payable to the person in question. My Department have issued the person with a review form, which should be completed and returned to the Department where a full review of her entitlements will be carried out.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33548/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In May 2010, the voluntary bog purchase scheme was closed to new applicants. Processing of applications on hand has been slower than anticipated due to capacity constraints in undertaking the conveyancing work involved. The time it takes to process applications can also vary depending on the legal complexities involved.

With regard to the application referred to in the Question, a letter of offer issued to the applicant on 20 April 2007 and the contract for the sale of the site was received by my Department from the solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant on 2 June 2011. Officials from my Department have examined this contract and are awaiting clearance from the Chief State Solicitor's Office in order to forward the file to that office.

It should also be noted that my Department will be writing to all remaining applicants under the voluntary bog purchase scheme in the coming weeks to outline their options in light of recent policy decisions regarding the availability of alternative compensation arrangements.