Richard Bruton
Question:858 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will extend travel concessions to persons who are able to work but are unable to drive due to certain medical conditions. [11207/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
Questions (796, 797, 798, 799)
Written answers
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance.
It is also available to people under 66 years who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. People who live in health board approved residential care who previously received disability allowance from my Department or disabled person's maintenance allowance from a health board are also entitled to a free travel pass.
Further extensions to the scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context and taking account of the specific needs of groups of people not covered by the existing arrangements.
Martin Ferris
Question:859 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann will install machines capable of reading smartcards from the Six Counties after 2005 following an undertaking to introduce an all-Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners. [11230/04]
View answerMartin Ferris
Question:869 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department has consulted the authorities in the Six Counties about the introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme for persons over 65 years. [11451/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 859 and 869 together.
Under existing arrangements free travel pass holders in Northern Ireland and the Republic can undertake free travel within their own jurisdictions. They can also avail of free cross-Border journeys on bus and rail services. The programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a system of all-Ireland free travel for pensioners and other eligible social welfare customer categories. This would enable pass holders to make onward journeys free of charge in each jurisdiction.
My Department is co-operating with the Rail Procurement Agency towards the introduction of an integrated public transport ticketing system in the greater Dublin area, for free travel pass holders as well as for the general public. When it becomes operational in 2005 or 2006 it will involve the use of smartcard technology.
When my Department is developing the scheme it will discuss the feasibility of using smartcard reader technology with Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and other participating transport operators. Translink services in the North already operate such a system. Smartcard technology would have a number of advantages from an administrative and accounting perspective.
Last year my Department's officials met representatives of the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland. A number of issues on the existing system of free travel on cross-Border routes was discussed. The northern representatives were advised of the Government's commitment to introduce the scheme. Its design, implementation and ongoing management will require the active co-operation of that Department and the various travel operators in both jurisdictions. My Department will make further contact with the northern authorities when work on the introduction of the scheme begins.
Seán Ardagh
Question:860 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will examine the circumstances and advise the services and benefits that are available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [11285/04]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme, subject to certain conditions, is administered by the health boards on behalf of my Department. It provides assistance to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. People in full-time education or employment are generally excluded from receiving assistance under the scheme. A health board may award it in exceptional circumstances.
The South Western Area Health Board has advised that the person concerned should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre. Her circumstances can be evaluated in order to determine whether she qualifies for assistance under the terms of the scheme.