Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the progress to date in the determination of entitlement to an increase of illness benefit payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has provided all the requested supporting documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35706/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned has been in receipt of illness benefit since 13 October 2006. She is in receipt of the maximum personal weekly rate less a deduction of €20 towards the recovery of an overpayment. She has applied for a qualified adult increase in respect of her spouse and for qualified child increases in respect of two children. In order for it to be decided whether these increases are payable to her it is necessary to establish the income of her spouse who has a history of self-employment. This matter was investigated by a social welfare inspector who reported in September 2011 that the person concerned had failed to provide the necessary documentary evidence.

It is understood that the Deputy's office has indicated that bank statements relating to the person concerned and her spouse were posted to this Department's PO Box no. 1650 on 25 October 2011. However, despite an extensive search, there is no trace of the documents. The Deputy's office have been advised accordingly and given an assurance that, once the documents are available (whether original or duplicates), they will be considered as a matter of urgency.