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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Noel Ahern

Question:

212 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the situation in relation to the entitlement of children to free travel whose parents have that entitlement due to being in receipt of invalidity pension; if children are excluded, the reason therefore; the number of children involved; and the cost of extending free travel to all dependants of an invalidity pension holder while accompanied by him or her. [10592/97]

The free travel scheme operated by my Department is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, as well as certain incapacitated people under that age who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments such as invalidity pension. The scheme provides free travel, primarily at off-peak periods, to eligible people on the main public and private transport services. Currently, about 470,000 people qualify for free travel at an estimated annual cost this year of some £32.6 million.

A spouse of a qualified person may also avil of the scheme if accompanied by the pass holder. However, the scheme is subject to time restrictions and capacity constraints and its provisions were never intended to extend to the dependent childrent of pass holders.

At the end of last year, there were some 12,713 people in receipt of invalidity pension from my Department who were claiming for both adult and child dependants. It is estimated that the extension of the free travel scheme to include the estimated 25,561 dependent children involved would entail additional annual costs of the order of £1.8 million. The cost of free travel for the adult dependants is already included in the figure of £32.6 million mentioned above.

Paul Bradford

Question:

213 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be awarded his family income supplement payment. [10658/97]

Family income supplement at the weekly rate of £69 has been awarded in this case with effect from 27 February 1997. The person concerned has been informed accordingly and arrears will issue within the next few days.

Michael Ring

Question:

214 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be decided on in view of the fact that he is married with three children, and they simply cannot afford to manage on his current rate of benefit and an urgent decision is required. [10659/97]

The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance based on a means spouse's earnings from insurable employment. His claim was reviewed and his means were increased to £167 per week with effect from 26 March 1997. The assessment was based on his spouse's earnings from insurable employment and income from farming.

He appealed this decision on 24 March 1997 and his claim will be considered by an appeals officer who will be in contact with him on the matter.
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