Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the reason a person (details supplied) who has previously been habitually resident here up until the age of 28 years and who moved to live and work in another country for nine years, resumed their permanent residence here, has now been refused social welfare due to the habitual residence condition. [7045/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for Jobseeker's allowance on 4 October 2011. Based on the information supplied by the applicant it was decided that she did not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition. The deciding officer in this case has decided that the person's centre of interest is not in the State.

If the person is not satisfied with the decision of the deciding officer, more documentary evidence or information that would be relevant to the case can be sent to the Department and the initial decision will be reviewed by a deciding officer.

The decision can also be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance payments to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow were stopped without warning; if she will provide a detailed account of the reason this happened; the person who in her Department authorised the payments to cease; if she will direct the relevant officials in her Department to apologise to the person concerned for the needless anxiety this episode caused should she discover that officials in her Department made a mistake; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7051/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned had her rent supplement payment temporarily suspended due to the transfer of her primary social welfare payments. When the transfer was completed her claim to rent supplement was immediately reassessed. The person concerned was then issued with an exceptional needs payment on 1 February for rent arrears that were owed. The person concerned is in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of home helps who received supplementary welfare allowance payments in 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7055/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net " within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

There are no statistics available within the Department on the number of home helps who received SWA payments.