Vol. 506 No. 5
197 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the present rules whereby half rate disability benefit for widows and one-parent families is discontinued after 15 months in order to permit long-term benefit to be paid in these instances. [15696/99]
The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support and, as a general rule, only one social welfare payment is payable to an individual.
However, an exception to this rule is made in the case of widows, widowers and other lone parents who are sick or unemployed. Where a person who is in receipt of a widow(er)'s pension or one-parent family payment satisfies the relevant contribution conditions, they may be entitled to receive disability benefit or unemployment benefit at half-rate for a period of up to 15 months, in addition to their pension. Furthermore, if they are entitled to a widow(er)'s pension or one-parent family payment at a reduced rate, e.g. on the basis of insufficient PRSI contributions or on account of means, the rate of that payment is also increased up to the maximum level for the duration of their claim for disability benefit or unemployment benefit.
While any changes to current arrangements could only be considered in a budgetary context, I can assure the Deputy that the matter will be kept under review.
198 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a lone parent's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15697/99]
It is a condition for entitlement to one-parent family payment for separated persons that the claimant makes reasonable efforts, in the particular circumstances, to obtain maintenance from their spouse.
My Department has explained the position in this regard to the person concerned. The Deputy himself is also aware of the position as outlined in the debate on the Adjournment on 18 May 1999.
The latest evidence available to the Department is that the spouse of the person concerned is now working and should, therefore, be in a position to provide maintenance. The Department is obliged to ensure that in such circumstances the claimant seeks maintenance and advised her to contact the District Court with a view to getting a maintenance order. She was also asked to provide certain other information to enable her means to be assessed.
The approach being adapted in this case is the standard approach in dealing with claims for one-parent family payment, viz. the same approach as has been adopted to this scheme since the inception of this scheme on 1 January 1997 and to the previous schemes of lone parent allowance and deserted wife's benefit and allowance schemes dating back to the 1970s. The person concerned did not supply the evidence required or demonstrate reasonable efforts to get maintenance, and her claim was accordingly refused on 29 April 1999. She was informed of this decision and of her right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
If there has been any relevant change in the circumstances of the person concerned, she should inform the Department and her entitlement to one-parent family payment will be re-assessed.
199 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the terms of the free travel scheme to cover Irish pensioners in Britain for free travel in Ireland in view of the historic contribution of these pensioners over their lifetime to the Irish economy and the fact that Northern Ireland pensioners carrying a British passport have this facility. [15737/99]
The free travel scheme, as in the case of other social welfare schemes in Ireland, is available to all eligible persons irrespective of nationality. It would not be possible to extend the scheme to Irish nationals resident in Britain as this would be contrary to EU law, which in many instances prohibits discrimination on grounds of nationality. This would mean, therefore, that if the scheme were to be extended on the lines suggested, it would have to be extended to all pensioners who are EU nationals coming to Ireland for temporary stays.
Extending the free travel scheme to all retired citizens of the European Union visiting Ireland would have policy, cost and administrative implications bearing in mind that the scheme is based on spare seating capacity being available on public transport during off-peak hours only.
The free schemes were originally designed to benefit mainly older people in receipt of a social welfare type payment who were living alone and required additional assistance. However, over the years, additional categories of people have been included. A fundamental review of the free schemes, including the free travel scheme, has commenced to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner and the proposal to extend free travel to EU pensioners visiting Ireland will be examined as part of this review process.
200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been refused unemployment assistance in view of the fact she has complied with all his Department's requirements including consulting with the jobs facilitator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15792/99]
It is a condition for continued entitlement to unemployment assistance that the recipient be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work. Claims are periodically reviewed to ensure that the conditions of entitlement continue to be met.
The entitlement of the person concerned, who has been in receipt of unemployment assistance while working part time since 1995, was reviewed in April 1999. Based on the evidence supplied the deciding officer was not satisfied that she was available for and genuinely seeking full-time work and her claim was disallowed.
The person concerned, having been advised to do so, consulted the jobs facilitator and indicated a wish to take up a training course. She was given certain information regarding courses available locally but has not contacted the Department further in that regard.
201 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is in receipt of unemployment benefit has been refused permission to engage in voluntary work on a community project in view of the fact there are already paid employees on this project; the basis of this ruling; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15904/99]
The person concerned first claimed unemployment benefit in 1982, having been previously employed as a panel beater. He has been in receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance or on a community employment scheme continuously since then. He has spent a total of eight years on a community employment scheme with the same community group during this period. He has recently applied to work on a voluntary basis with this group.
It is a requirement for entitlement to unemployment payments that a claimant be available for and making efforts to obtain suitable full-time employment. People in receipt of unemployment payments may undertake voluntary work provided it does not interfere with their efforts to find paid employment. The circumstances of this case are under review at present and further information is being sought to enable a decision on continuing entitlement to be made. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of these inquiries.
