When I last spoke on this subject, I referred to the fact that there were more complaints about local authorities to the Ombudsman in 1996 than previously. I was surprised by this because one normally expects issues concerning county councillors and council officials to be resolved locally. However, a good example was given in the report where responsibility for dealing with the flooding of a house in County Galway was in dispute. The householder concerned did not accept he was responsible for dealing with the problem and thought the council was responsible but it did not accept that. The Ombudsman acted as referee and recommended the council contribute £3,000 towards relieving the flooding problems in that person's house. It is interesting that the Ombudsman now receives more complaints regarding local authority matters. In many ways these are the most important matters because they are local. There will be an increase in the number of other local authority areas which are brought to the attention of the Ombudsman. This does not mean that the role of public representatives will be undermined.
There was a 10 per cent increase in the number of complaints in 1996, bringing the figure to over 3,000. One could argue that this is a small number in comparison to the number of inquiries received by public representatives. The Ombudsman is attempting to introduce clinics in various parts of the country. I welcome the fact that more use will be made of local radio and newspapers to highlight the role of the Ombudsman and the fact that the public can lodge complaints at these offices. This will become more important in the future.
The report raises issues concerning school transport. This is topical given the serious accident which occurred yesterday involving a school bus. The report notes that school transport regulations have not changed since 1966-7. The Government must look at this in relation to the fall in population. The Ombudsman has taken up many issues relating to school transport and has recommended a course of action for school boards of management in County Galway who are trying to establish or retain school transport services.
The issue of overcrowding on school transport will become more important. This morning's radio report noted that a seat on a school bus is intended to seat two children. However, in many cases there are three children to a seat. This can lead to overcrowding and jostling and pupils being suspended from school buses. This area will have to be examined by the Government.
Previous reports by the Ombudsman made recommendations concerning social welfare entitlements. This report notes that 50 per cent of complaints related to this subject. In particular, there were many complaints concerning the pension entitlements of the self-employed, including those running small businesses and small farms. Some farmers feel discriminated against because they have not been able to make contributions for ten years before reaching 66 years of age. The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs is working hard on this issue and I hope he will be able to resolve the unfair treatment of these people and allow them to receive pensions on reaching 66 years of age.
The social welfare issue also involves community care. That is an area which will be highlighted to a greater extent by the public, public representatives and the Ombudsman's office because, with an ageing population, a greater number of complaints relating to this area are being made to the Ombudsman. The stark situation regarding the carer's allowance is that, while it is an excellent provision, the means test has unfortunately prevented many people from receiving that payment. On the other hand, while the maximum payment for those in a nursing home is £120, which is a sizeable payment, many people are not entitled to it because the family of the elderly person must be means tested by the local health board. While supports exist in schemes, such as the carer's allowance and the nursing home subvention, and of course in the provision of full-time care and attention in hospital, which could be in the order of £300 per week where that is necessary, it appears that the question of value for money may not be addressed. I do not know whether there is a role here for the Ombudsman, but I favour any system which helps a person to be looked after in the home and that is why I have always felt — not just because Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are in Government now — that the carer's allowance should not involve a means test. While the scheme is means tested I hope that the Minister will move, as other Ministers have done in the past, towards a situation where more income will be disregarded to allow a greater uptake of the carer's allowance.
The home help scheme has been disgracefully implemented by the health boards. Some health boards pay only £1.40 per hour for home help whereas the rate in my health board is £2.20 for a maximum of nine hours, so that a home helper may receive a maximum payment of £19.80 per week. That is very little and shows the appalling nature of the home help system. The Ombudsman, who has been dealing with these kind of issues in the community and home care areas, has seen the number of complaints increase over the years and the Government must address them. I hope there will be good news in relation to some of these issues in the forthcoming budget on 3 December. If we cannot resolve all the questions relating to community and home care, at least we will move towards their resolution.
Various social welfare schemes have also been highlighted in the Ombudsman's report. I was interested in a recent press statement by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Deputy Ahern, about the number of existing free schemes for which many qualifying elderly people do not apply. In particular he referred to the free telephone rental scheme. This is an excellent scheme. The Government announced measures to reduce the cost of installing a telephone and provide extra units. It is my hope, and that of the Minister, that we will be able to encourage more people to apply for the scheme which is particularly important for people living alone. That scheme, in conjunction with the neighbourhood watch scheme, the community alert scheme and the schemes which provide locks, bolts and pendants to the elderly, is very important.
While the majority of the complaints in the Ombudsman's report relate to social welfare, that does not mean that the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is an unfriendly Department — on the contrary, it provides an excellent service and we have a fine Minister in Deputy Ahern. The officials in the Department are excellent and the structure of social welfare offices, employment exchanges and telephone services is useful and important. I hope they will be used even more, particularly by the elderly.
The Office of the Ombudsman should look into the lack of a national system of medical card appeals. Each health board has its own practice at present. We also have two systems of housing repairs for the elderly — at local authority level and within the health board — and any duplication should be removed. There were many complaints about Telecom Éireann and An Post and both bodies are trying to address them. Rural Deputies are aware of the major problems with having post delivered from Dublin to country areas. It is difficult for business people who receive post in the late afternoon and are expected to reply within an hour.
I hope the issues highlighted in the Ombudsman's report are resolved by the Government. Both the report and this debate have been helpful. I have great regard for the office and hope we will be in constant touch with the Ombudsman in future.