Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1997

Vol. 480 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Noel Ahern

Question:

250 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if bus passes or other free schemes are available to any former employees of State or semi-State bodies who have retired early on sickness grounds on incomes equivalent to the category of invalidity pension; and if so, if the £30 rule applies in these cases. [13426/97]

Noel Ahern

Question:

251 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free travel provisions to all widows in view of the fact that many of them feel discriminated against, particularly when compared to invalidity pension holders who receive free travel irrespective of the means of their partners. [13427/97]

Austin Deasy

Question:

271 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to extend the free schemes to include persons in receipt of widow's-widower's pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13829/97]

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 250, 251 and 271 together.

Free travel is available to all persons in the State aged 66 years or over and also to certain disabled people under that age.

Entitlement is not contingent on the person's means. The other free schemes are available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments 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.

Last July, the free schemes of electricity allowance, telephone rental allowance and colour television licence were extended to low income pensioners who did not previously qualify because they were not in receipt of a social welfare pension. The weekly income limit fixed for this purpose is the maximum personal rate of old age (contributory) pension — currently £78 per week — plus any increases for dependants, plus £30. About 9,000 people benefited from this measure. Figures are not available regarding the number of former State or semi-State employees who retired early due to illness. This group would not, at any rate, be eligible for the free schemes on age grounds or, because of PRSI conditions, might not be entitled to a qualifying payment such as invalidity pension.

The question of extending the fee schemes to include all widows and widowers would involve costs of about £30 million and this would have to be examined in a budgetary context.

Noel Ahern

Question:

252 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the assistance, if any, which is available to elderly people paying an annual maintenance charge of £126 per annum towards Telecom Phonewatch; if such a scheme can be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13432/97]

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. D. Ahern)

There is no specific scheme in operation to cover the maintenance cost of a Phonewatch or similar system.

Older people living alone who are in receipt of free telephone rental allowance are being indirectly assisted towards the running costs of a Phonewatch system, in so far as possession of a telephone is an essential part of the operation of these systems. The FTRA scheme covers the rental costs on the telephone and thus makes it easier for the older person concerned to afford to install a Phonewatch system.

The Deputy will be aware that the Department also operates a scheme of community support for older people under which funding is available through local voluntary and community organisations for small-scale physical security equipment such as strengthening of doors and windows, window locks, door chains and locks and security lighting; and socially monitored alarm systems.

Vulnerable older people living alone or in households made up exclusively of older people, or of older and other people who are dependent and vulnerable and who are unable to install or purchase the equipment concerned themselves, are eligible for assistance under this scheme.