Vol. 534 No. 3
72 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that people with television aerials which receive only RTE 1 and Network 2 have to be converted to receive TV 3 at a cost of approximately £80-£90; and if he will introduce a scheme to assist people on pensions and disability payments in this regard. [10358/01]
235 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the extent to which he will expand and extend the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10747/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 235 together.
The range of free schemes operated by my Department include the free electricity-gas allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free television licence schemes. These are generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who meet the conditions of a means test. They are also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. From May, the free schemes are available to all persons aged over 70 years, regardless of income or household composition.
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. It is also available to carers and people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by semi-State companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as services provided by some 80 private transport operators. My Department is always willing to consider further applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme.
73 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the progress made to date by the review of the supplementary allowance scheme; when the review will be ready for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/01]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered, on my Department's behalf, by the community welfare service in the health boards. An interdepartmental working group is currently reviewing the scheme as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The current review is a fundamental appraisal of the scheme aimed primarily at improving customer service and administrative efficiency. All aspects of the scheme will be examined. The review also provides an opportunity to re-focus the scheme, and the health boards' community welfare service, of which it is part, to become more effective in tackling poverty and social exclusion.
The first stage of the review is now nearing completion. This involved an examination of the objectives of the scheme and included a widespread consultation process. A total of 145 submissions were received from users of the SWA service, information providers and other interested parties including the social partners, the health boards who administer the scheme and the trade unions representing community welfare officers. These submissions are currently being considered and will inform the deliberations of the interdepartmental working group.
A further meeting of the working group is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 10 April and I expect that the proposals of the group will be finalised by the end of the year.
