Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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691. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 349 of 12 July 2016, the reason certain compensation awards are exempted when others are not; the criteria used when deciding which compensation awards would be exempt; his plans to amend legislation to include other awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24641/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in response to Question No. 349 of 12 July 2016, social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain compensation awards when assessing the means of a person for social assistance schemes.

This includes all income derived from compensation awarded by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, by the Residential Institutions Redress Board and in relation to disability caused by thalidomide. Any payment made by the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board is similarly disregarded. In addition, ex gratia payments made through the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme or to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries are also disregarded.

These compensation awards and payments were disregarded over the years as a result of Government decisions and the enactment of corresponding legislation. All other compensation or court awards which are not provided for in social welfare legislation are assessed in the normal manner. There are currently no plans to amend the legislation to include other awards.