Vol. 553 No. 5
387 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the standard rent allowance is not paid to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who are in secure accommodation; and if she will review the matter in view of the fact that the increased rent is causing hardship to elderly people. [14369/02]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards. Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme payment of a weekly or monthly supplement may be made in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. I understand the accommodation to which the Deputy refers was established with assistance from the Department of the Environment and Local Government's capital assistance scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, capital grants ranging from 90% to 95% are made available through local authorities, to approved voluntary bodies to provide accommodation for persons accepted as qualified for local authority housing. In addition to the non-repayable capital grants, subsidies may also be paid under section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988.
The relevant housing authority has a consultation right as to the fixing of rents for properties provided with assistance under the capital assistance scheme. A normal market rent is not needed by the landlord because of the extent of public subsidy and, accordingly, a limit is set on the maximum amount of rent supplement payable to tenants in these circumstances. The maximum amount of rent supplement payable is €39.36 per week for a couple and €36.82 for a single person. These levels were set as and from April 2001. These are the equivalent amounts of rent supplement that would ordinarily be payable to people aged 65 years or more under the standard terms of the rent supplement scheme if their rent was €90.48, in the case of a couple, or €62.94 in the case of a single person.
The relevant health board has been contacted on behalf of the residents in question. Arising from this, an error in the calculation of the rent supplement payable in respect of a number of cases has been identified. Arrangements have been made for an immediate review of all cases. Where errors are found, payments will be increased and any arrears due will be paid. My Department will also ensure that if any other cases exist they will be identified and similarly rectified. I wish to apologise for the error in this case. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is currently being reviewed as part of my Department's formal programme evaluation studies. The review will examine all aspects of the scheme including the issue of rent supplementation to tenants of accommodation provided under the capital assistance scheme.
388 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has again been refused; and if an oral hearing will be scheduled for this case. [14371/02]
The person's application for carer's allowance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that (i) the care recipient, her mother, was not regarded as being in need of full-time care and attention and (ii) the person concerned does not provide full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. The person concerned appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office. A submission on the case is being prepared by the deciding officer and will be sent to the social welfare appeals office. The case will then be referred to an appeals officer for consideration.
389 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will restore a red unrestricted bus travel pass to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [14453/02]
Under the free travel scheme, peak-time access restrictions apply on Dublin Bus and on Bus Éireann city services in Cork and Limerick. The restrictions arise because of pressure on bus capacity at peak commuter times. There are no time restrictions on DART or other rail services. My Department, in consultation with CIE, has arranged in a very small number of exceptional cases to issue a temporary unrestricted pass for a limited individual period to facilitate unavoidable hospital appointments and to enable the passholder to re-arrange appointments outside of the peak hours. When these special passes are issued, passholders are advised by the Department to re-arrange their hospital appointments to enable them to travel outside peak times after the pass expiry date. This arrangement is not sustainable on an extended individual basis.
The person concerned was issued with a temporary unrestricted pass in November 2001. In view of the circumstances of this case, I have arranged to have this pass extended for a further six months. The person concerned has applied for a companion free travel pass on foot of the extension of this pass to invalidity pensioners who are medically certified as unable to travel unaccompanied. Her application has been approved and a companion free travel pass will issue to her as soon as possible. This will allow any one person aged 16 or over to accompany her free of charge when travelling.
