asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an appeal for disability benefit has been disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 3 November 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work.

He appealed against this decision and was examined by another medical referee on 18 January 1989 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.

He was informed of the result of this examination and was supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination.

46.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is on long term unemployment assistance was refused free fuel payments; and if the matter will be reconsidered.

In order to qualify for a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme a person must be in receipt of the long-term rate of unemployment assistance and be residing alone or only with qualified children.

In this particular case the person concerned resides with his wife who, because she is in receipt of disability benefit in her own right, is not his qualified dependant. As a result he is not entitled to a fuel allowance under the terms of the national fuel scheme.

47.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has been refused disability benefit despite the fact that she suffers from an acute long-term illness; and if he will give details of her contributions and credits for the governing tax year 1987-88 detailing the weeks in that year for which credits or contributions were made.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 January 1989. Before payment could be authorised it was necessary to determine the number of contributions paid and credited in the 1987-88 year, the contribution year governing her claim.

Following inquiries it was established that she has sufficient contributions credited in 1987-88 to qualify for benefit. The total reckonable credited contributions recorded for the year amount to 51, and are calculated as follows:

Payment at the maximum rate of £54.20 weekly, which includes an increase in respect of two dependent children, has now been authorised from 7 January 1989 (fourth day of incapacity) and all benefit payable to date has issued.