Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004
407 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will consider extending the free travel to Irish pensioners who have worked and live in Britain and who are in receipt of Irish old age pensions for the duration of any stay or visit to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15671/04]
View answerThe primary objective of the free travel scheme is to encourage older people and people with disabilities to remain independent and active within the community, thereby reducing the need for institutional care. In addition, one of the qualifying criteria for free travel is that the applicant must be permanently resident in the State.
Extending the scheme to Irish citizens living abroad, whether in Britain or elsewhere, is outside the current scope and objective of the scheme. Accordingly, there are no plans to extend the free travel scheme in this manner but the position will be kept under review.
408 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person in receipt of dietary allowance from her Department who spends part of the year in another EU country for health reasons can continue to receive the allowance while they are outside Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15672/04]
View answerDiet supplements are provided for under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards. The objective of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is to provide assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their basic needs and those of any adult or child dependant. Supplementary welfare allowance is not payable in respect of periods spent outside the State.
409 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the working group set up to review the back to school clothing and footwear allowance has reported to her; and the actions she intends to take as a result of the report. [15673/04]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides assistance towards the cost of school clothing and footwear for children attending mainly primary or post-primary schools. As part of its expenditure review programme, my Department established a working group to undertake a fundamental examination of all aspects of the scheme, including the rates of payment, the income limits, the means test, the timing of payments, the eligibility criteria and other issues. I expect to have the report presented to me shortly and I will consider any changes to the scheme in the light of the recommendations of the working group.
410 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for carer’s allowance. [15701/04]
View answerThe person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 11 May 2004. The case has been referred to an investigative officer of my Department for a means assessment and to establish if the conditions necessary for receipt for carer's allowance are satisfied. In the meantime, the medical evidence in support of her application has been forwarded to the chief medical adviser of my Department for consideration of medical eligibility. Her entitlement to carer's allowance will be further considered in light of the medical adviser's and investigative officer's reports and she will be notified directly of the outcome.
Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
