Vol. 448 No. 2
106 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free electricity, television and telephone rental allowance schemes to persons over 66 years of age who are retired from the public service or from the semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/95]
The schemes of free electricity allowance, free television licence and free telephone rental allowance are available only to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who satisfy the living alone conditions attached to those schemes. Depending on their income, a person in receipt of an occupational pension may be entitled to receive an old age (non-contributory) pension from my Department. In that event and where the living alone condition can be satisfied, they will qualify for the free schemes referred to above.
The current annual cost of the free schemes, excluding the free travel scheme, is about £59.4 million. Any extension of those schemes to additional groups not currently covered would have financial implications that would have to be considered in the light of available resources.
The free travel scheme is available to every resident in the State who is 66 years of age or over including retired public servants.
107 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the decision to refuse a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 a rent allowance on the basis that she is in full-time employment. [1729/95]
I regret that under current supplementary welfare allowance legislation no payment can be made in this person's current circumstances. Legislation governing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which provides for payment of rent allowance, excludes people in full-time employment from receipt of the allowance. I am aware that this can act as a disincentive to work for those on low pay especially where they have significant housing costs. Family income supplement is a useful support for couples with children; however, single people on low pay, who must provide their own private rented accommodation, may be especially affected.
The Programme for Government promises to accelerate the process of tax reform by measures which include the targeting of lower paid workers and young new job entrants, through a combination of measures aimed at taking them out of the tax net and the development of a reformed system of PRSI contributions and other measures.
This is a complex area involving the interaction of the social welfare and tax systems, as well as with the effects of low pay employment. An expert working group on the integration of the tax and social welfare systems is currently studying the problems arising from the interaction of the two systems under the auspices of my Department. The Programme for Government promises publication of their study in 1995 and I look forward to examining their report with a view to tackling problems such as that brought to my attention by the Deputy.
108 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant part payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who was not aware that she was entitled to this when she took up part-time employment on 5 December 1994, and who now has an alternative child minder. [1730/95]
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 6 January 1995 having changed from full-time to part-time employment at her own request. Her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer and on 18 January 1995 she lodged an appeal against this decision. Her appeal has now been forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and will be considered by an appeals officer as soon as possible. As the Appeals Office is independent in the discharge of its function in relation to deciding appeals it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in this case.
