Vol. 493 No. 5
187 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will declare as null and void an assessment carried out on a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who is in receipt of unemployment assistance and who had his assistance reduced without the mandatory advance notice being given by the social welfare officer of his intention to call and provide the person with an opportunity of getting his income details ready. [16718/98]
Following a recent review of his entitlements, a deciding officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £37 from 10 June 1998, derived from income from a holding. This assessment entitles him to payment of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £33.50.
If the person concerned has further documentation which he feels may affect his means assessment, he should forward it to the social welfare inspector who will re-examine his case and provide a further report to the deciding officer. Alternatively, the person concerned may appeal the deciding officer's decision to the independent social welfare appeals office. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
188 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the social welfare payments, if any, which do not qualify for the household budget scheme; if he will extend the scope of the existing scheme to all remaining benefits particularly invalidity pension, disability pension and old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16737/98]
The household budgeting scheme was originally applied to unemployment payments which are paid via electronic methods through An Post. The scheme is not available to pension payments which are made via order books issued six months in advance.
Arrangements have been put in place whereby lone parents can opt to switch to an electronic payment and so avail of the budgeting scheme. This has proved very successful. Arrangements are now being finalised to extend the option to invalidity pension and disability allowance and customers on these schemes will very shortly be able to avail of the household budgeting facility. The scheme will be extended to further categories of pension as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.
189 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason for disallowance of unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has a wife and three children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16746/98]
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since August 1993 and was assessed at nil means. His case was reviewed on 12 May 1998 and he was requested to submit certain documentation, specifically in relation to the purchase of his new house, so that his means could be reviewed.
He failed to submit the required information and his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer, with effect from 1 July 1998, on the grounds that he had failed to fully disclose his means as required by the Social Welfare Acts.
He was notified of the decision and of his right to appeal on 24 June 1998. If the necessary documentation is now submitted his claim will be reviewed.
190 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will offer treatment benefit as an option to all employees on reduced rate social insurance contributions; and the extra contributions, if any, that would be necessary if this was offered. [16769/98]
Treatment benefits, which include a range of dental, optical and aural services, are available to employees insured at the full rate of PRSI and to their dependent spouses. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the treatment benefits scheme to include other categories.
191 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider the issue of free travel passes to people who are suffering from epilepsy in view of the difficulties they experience when taking the prescribed medication which prevents them driving a mechanically propelled motor vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16829/98]
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in Ireland aged 66 years or over, and also to certain people with disabilities under that age who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. The scheme provides free travel, primarily at off-peak periods, to eligible people on the main public and private transport services. At the end of last January, free travel passes had been issued in respect of about 505,000 people at an annual cost of £33 million.
The free schemes were originally designed to benefit mainly older people who were living alone and required additional assistance. However, over the years, additional categories of people have been included. It is proposed to undertake a review of the free schemes, commencing in early 1999, to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner.
Any changes which would involve additional expenditure would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
