Vol. 509 No. 4
283 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the free travel scheme available to pensioners will be extended in accordance with the views of Camden Elderly Irish Network (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/99]
291 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to extend the free travel scheme to EU pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/99]
297 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has received a submission from the Camden Elderly Irish Network seeking the extension of the free travel scheme to Irish persons of retirement age living in the United Kingdom who regularly return home; if he will consider this as a gesture for the millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/99]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 283, 291 and 297 together.
A fundamental review of all the free schemes is being carried out to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner. This includes an examination of the qualifying conditions for the schemes, the target groups, the scope for alternative policy arrangements and the suggestion to extend the scheme. The conclusions of the review will be considered in the context of budget 2000.
The review of the free schemes, which is already at an advanced stage, is being carried out by an official of my Department on secondment, as a visiting research fellow at the Policy Institute, Trinity College, Dublin. It is expected that the research conducted will be formally published by the policy institute in the "Trinity Studies in Public Policy" series in January 2000.
The Camden Elderly Irish Network has made a submission on the issue of extending the free travel scheme to EU pensioners visiting Ireland. This issue is being examined in the review.
