John Ellis
Question:91 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant free travel facilities to all people who are permanently resident in welfare houses operated by health boards.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The free travel scheme applies to all residents of the State aged 66 years or over including those in institutional care. The scheme also applies to registered blind persons and to other disabled persons under 66 provided they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare or health board payment, for example, a disabled person's maintenance allowance.
An extension of the free travel scheme to cater persons under 66 who may not be receiving a qualifying payment would have cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
John Ellis
Question:92 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay arrears of pension due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned was awarded a retirement pension at the rate of £58 per week, with effect from 26 July 1990, i.e. the Thursday following the date on which outstanding social insurance contributions were paid by his former employer on his behalf.
The question of whether the person is entitled to arrears of pension from the date of his 65th birthday is being investigated as a matter of urgency. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
Austin Deasy
Question:93 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is on disability benefit for the last two years, has not received a free fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The national fuel scheme applies to persons in receipt of long term social welfare or health board payments. The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit since 14 April 1989. This is not a qualifying payment for the purposes of the national fuel scheme and he is not, therefore, entitled to a fuel allowance under that scheme.
However, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, local health boards provide assistance towards heating needs in exceptional circumstances. It is understood that the local health board did provide such assistance to the person concerned last year.
A similar application from this client has now been received by the health board for this heating season and is under consideration.