Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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532. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) has been waiting almost two years for the return of medical information to the deciding officer in order for a decision regarding their disablement benefit can be made and given the protected length of time for documents to be returned to the deciding office; and if she will intervene on their behalf in order to prevent further unjust and unfair delays in this situation. [38850/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disablement Benefit is one of the benefits payable under the Occupational Injuries scheme to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or prescribed occupational disease, on or after 1 May 1967.  In order to qualify for Disablement Benefit, the person must be in employment which is insured at PRSI Class A, B, D, J or M.

I confirm that the person concerned applied for Disablement Benefit on the 22 June 2021.

The claim was referred for a medical assessment on the 5 July 2021. We have received a medical report dated 3 June 2022 and a decision issued on 12 July 2022 to the person concerned.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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533. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that foster parents are not an eligible category for the back-to-school allowance; if she will review the current policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38924/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. 

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is not payable in respect of foster children as the financial support available to foster parents from Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes assistance with the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.

Any changes to the eligibility criteria for the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.  

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service.  There is a National CWS Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that back-to-school allowance is not available to foster parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38939/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. 

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is not payable in respect of foster children as the financial support available to foster parents from Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes assistance with the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.  

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service.  There is a National CWS Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.