Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Questions (391)

John Cregan

Question:

424 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the criteria for qualifying for a free travel pass can be altered or adjusted in order to allow persons who were State employees, retired on ill health, and in receipt of a State pension only to qualify; if some allowance can be made for persons over 55 and under 66 years, not in receipt of a social welfare payment and with no other income other than their State pension which is nearly equivalent or a little above the rate of disability allowance. [13546/04]

Written answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

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 age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type social welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension.

Extensions to the free travel and other schemes are considered in a budgetary context, taking account of financial circumstances and the needs of those not covered by the existing arrangements. The issue raised by the Deputy would be among those to be considered in that context.