Vol. 449 No. 1
184 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to extend the free travel scheme to people under 66 years of age suffering from incapacitation and illness and who would therefore benefit from the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3328/95]
185 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received submissions to extend the free travel scheme to people aged 60 years instead of the 66 year age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3329/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
The free travel scheme administered by my Department is available to all residents in the State from age 66 onwards and also to persons under 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments in respect of disabilities. About 440,000 people have been issued with free travel passes to date at a current annual cost of about £31 million.
Proposals for enhancement of the free travel scheme are received from time to time and are considered in the context of regular reviews of the scheme by my Department with a view to improvement. Any extension of the scheme to additional groups would have significant financial implications which could only be considered in a budgetary context.
186 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposed percentage increase for social welfare recipients of unemployment benefit in 1995; and the comparative figures for 1994. [3330/95]
187 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposed percentage increase for social welfare recipients of disability benefit in 1995; and the comparative figures for 1994. [3331/95]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.
Unemployment benefit and disability benefit will increase by 2.5 per cent in 1995 in line with inflation and will be payable six weeks earlier than last year. This six weeks extra increase is equivalent to a 3 per cent increase for 1995 if paid from July. In 1994, the increase was 3 per cent. In addition, the rate of payment for unemployment benefit and disability benefit was increased by a further £3.75. Two punts and ten pence of this increase was by way of compensation for the discontinuance of pay-related benefit payable with unemployment benefit and disability benefit.
188 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposed percentage increase for social welfare old age contributory pensioners in 1995; and the comparative figures for each of the years 1987 to 1994. [3332/95]
The old age contributory pension will increase by 2.5 per cent in 1995 in line with inflation. This increase will be effective from June 1995, six weeks earlier than in past years. This is equivalent to a 3 per cent increase from July.
Increases in the old age contributory pension for each of the years 1987 to 1994 are as follows. The rate of increase has declined each year since 1990.
|
Rate of Payment(under 80 years) |
Increase |
|
|
£ |
% |
|
|
July 1987 |
55.10 |
3 |
|
July 1988 |
56.80 |
3 |
|
July 1989 |
58.50 |
3 |
|
July 1990 |
61.50 |
5 |
|
July 1991 |
64.00 |
4 |
|
July 1992 |
66.60 |
4 |
|
July 1993 |
68.90 |
3.5 |
|
July 1994 |
71.00 |
3 |
189 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost of administering and implementing the increase of 10 pence per week in the living alone allowance. [3336/95]
The living alone allowance is paid as an addition or supplement to certain social welfare payments. It is automatically calculated and applied in tandem with other budget increases and it is incorporated into the weekly payment for each person and therefore the cost is insignificant.
190 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of people who were paid graduated disability benefit in 1994 and who subsequently had to have their income topped up by a supplementary welfare allowance payment. [3200/95]
There are currently 2,800 people in receipt of graduated rates of disability benefit.
191 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people currently in receipt of orphan's pension, both contributory and non-contributory. [3191/95]
At 31 December 1994 there were 946 orphan's pensions in payment comprising 709 orphan's (contributory) allowances and 237 orphan's (non-contributory) pensions.
192 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to amend legislation in order to allow for the payment of a pension to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 16 in respect of a period of more than six months before the date on which a claim such as a person made where the claimant proves that there was good cause for the failure to make the claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3363/95]
Under social welfare regulations a claim for survivor's pension, which is the payment of interest to the Deputy, must normally be made not later than three months following the death of a spouse. If a claim is made outside the three month period and there is good reason for the delay the pension is back-dated beyond the three months, but legally in no case can payment be back-dated more than six months prior to the date of claim. In the case in question, the payment was back-dated for six months.
The backdating of claims is one of the issues which is being reviewed within my Department at present.
193 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the action, if any, he proposes to take to restore to former PRSI contributors at the A rate full benefits as paid for under their contributions.[3374/95]
It is assumed the Deputy is referring to the loss of some social insurance benefits over the past few years at the instance of previous Governments.
As set out in the programme A Government of Renewal, the Government is committed to the maintenance and development of the social insurance system. This will ensure that the entitlements of PRSI workers will be safeguarded for the future.
Specifically, the areas designated for action by the Government include: increased rates of disability benefit and unemployment benefit in line with the Commission on Social Welfare's main rate, a review of the commission's minimum adequate rates which will be undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, restructuring of the method of taxing disability benefit and unemployment benefit, as already announced in last week's budget, the integration of the tax and social welfare systems in the context of the ongoing work in this area, and a review of the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers to ensure that changes in work patterns are being adequately reflected.
