Richard Bruton
Question:235 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider extending the free schemes to cover the cost of cable services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20720/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Richard Bruton
Question:236 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider negotiating with public transport companies to allow persons with a free travel pass to board services in the morning time at 9.30 a.m. instead of 9.45 a.m. [20721/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The free travel scheme is available to all people resident in the State aged 66 years or over, as well as to carers and people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The other free schemes, including the electricity-gas allowance, telephone allowance and free television licence scheme, 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 fulfil 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.
Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 years whose late spouses had been in receipt of the free schemes retain that entitlement to ensure that households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse.
From October 2000 the free schemes were extended to all persons aged 75 and over, regardless of their income and household composition. In addition, provision was made in budget 2001 to further extend the free schemes to all persons aged 70 years and over from last May.
The review of the free schemes, which was published by the Policy Institute in April 2000, examines the issue of extending them to include other items of expenditure, including the cost of cable television. The review considers that the schemes, as currently constituted, provide a basic package of necessary household benefits that ensure a limited standard of comfort or well-being to a particular targeted group. It notes that it is not the business of this Department to provide for all socially desirable items of expenditure and recommends that no further goods and services be covered by the free schemes, unless their social benefit is clearly over and above that which can be purchased by increased income.
The review also commented on the fact that many private companies extend concessions to pensioners in order to increase their business usage, as part of their social aims and as recognition of the value they have received from their customers over the years. It also recommended that no further goods and services be covered by the free schemes. In this regard, following previous requests for concessions on the cost of cable television, my officials wrote to the cable company concerned bringing the demands for such concessions to its attention.
With regard to the time restrictions on the free travel scheme, these have been a feature of this scheme since its conception. They apply at peak times on city bus services in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. They do not apply in the case of mentally handicapped people, people attending long-term rehabilitation courses or certain work experience programmes and certain other disabled or blind people.
These people are issued with an unrestricted free travel pass which enables them to travel during the normally restricted travel times.
The central issue in regard to time restrictions relate to capacity constraints. Where restrictions apply it is at the request of the transport companies because the transport system is under severe pressure from commuters travelling to and from work and school in the morning and evening. There are no peak time travel restrictions on DART, suburban rail services and on services provided by private transport operators in other parts of the country.
The review of the free schemes examines the question of time restrictions and notes that the demands for the easing of time restrictions are, without exception, based on the fact that people have difficulty attending hospitals for appointments that fall within the restricted peak times.
The review recommends that the Department of Health and Children and the health boards should examine this problem with a view to introducing more convenient and flexible appointments for free travel pass holders. My Department has written to the Department of Health and Children bringing this recommendation to its attention.
The free travel scheme, in common with the other free schemes operated by this Department, is kept under review with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements.