Vol. 477 No. 2
248 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to introduce non-cash benefits and free travel to a limited number of persons who have had to retire from State and semi-State bodies on the grounds of ill health and who are not yet pensioners; if so, the cost envisaged in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9132/97]
Free travel is available to all persons in the State aged 66 years or over and also to certain people with disabilities under the age of 66. The other free schemes are available to people usually aged 66 or over who are in receipt of a welfare type payment and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy the living alone condition. In addition, widows between the age of 60 and 65 whose late husbands had entitlement to the free schemes retain that entitlement notwithstanding their age.
The free schemes were extended in July 1996 to low income pensioners who were not in receipt of a social welfare type payment. The weekly income limit fixed for this purpose is the maximum personal rate of old age (contributory) pension, currently £75 per week, plus any increases for dependants, plus £30.
Extending the free schemes to categories who do not qualify under the current conditions would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.
