asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason free electricity and TV licence has been refused to an 87-year-old woman living alone on a widow's war pension (details supplied) and if her entitlement could be reconsidered on compassionate grounds.

The application from the lady concerned had to be disallowed because under the present provisions the pension she receives is not one which would make her eligible for a free electricity allowance and a TV licence.

472.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare (i) the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance in the past year to the latest available date (ii) the number of such applications rejected and the percentage of total applications this figure represents; (iii) the percentage of approved applications which received (a) the full amount of supplementary welfare allowance, (b) between ½ and ¾ of the full amount, (c) between ¼ and ½ of the amount, (d) ¼ of the full amount or less; (iv) the total number of rejected applicants who exercised their right to appeal and the total number of such appeals which were approved.

While the information sought by the Deputy at (i), (ii) and (iii) is not available there were 14,767 claims in payment on the 31 December 1978, the latest date for which full figures are available.

The total number of appeals received in the 12-month period ended 30 June 1979 was 408 of which 131 were allowed and 75 were awaiting decision on that date.

473.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of cases approved for supplementary welfare allowance in which vouchers and not cash were paid to recipients and the proportion of approved cases this figure represents.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available from the health boards but I am getting in touch with them and I will write to the Deputy as soon as I hear from them.

474.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a pension book (details supplied) will be transferred from Chapelizod post office to Clonard post office, County Westmeath.

A pension order book payable at Clonard post office, Enfield, County Meath, and arrears of pension due were issued to the pensioner on 9 October 1979.

475.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of children's allowances (details supplied) payable from 3 February will be issued.

All arrears of children's allowances have been issued in this case.

476.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if free telephone rental will be provided for a person (details supplied) in view of the domestic circumstances.

The person in question is under 66 years of age and is accordingly not eligible for a free telephone rental allowance.

477.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have arrears of contributory widow's pension paid to a person, details supplied, in County Cork.

A widow's contributory pension has been awarded to the person concerned and arrears due are in course of issue to her.