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Social Welfare Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004

Wednesday, 6 October 2004

Questions (37, 38, 39, 40)

Denis Naughten

Question:

139 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there is a common framework within the EU to allow persons who have travel passes in their own country to travel on them within the EU; the progress which has been made in establishing a senior euro pass card within the EU, to entitle older persons to concessions on various services, including travel, cultural and social activities with a particular emphasis on the benefits for Irish emigrants living in the UK and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23373/04]

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Written answers

As far as I am aware, there are no proposals being worked on currently at EU level in relation to a common travel framework on the lines referred to by the Deputy. Any such proposals would have significant financial and administrative implications and, in the light of the variety of arrangements which currently apply, there would be major practical problems in implementing arrangements of this kind.

The free travel scheme in this country covers everybody aged 66 or over as well as carers and people with disabilities in receipt of certain social welfare payments. It applies to travel within the State and cross-Border journeys between here and Northern Ireland. The Government is committed to the introduction of a system of all-Ireland free travel for pensioners and other eligible categories of social welfare customers to enable passholders to make onward journeys free of charge in each jurisdiction. Discussions have taken place with the Northern Ireland authorities to progress this issue.

The issue of a senior euro pass card, which would entitle older people to concessions on various services including travel, cultural and social activities, was raised in a report commissioned by the EU Commission some years ago but no proposals in this regard have been brought forward subsequently.

Tom Hayes

Question:

140 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will amend the child benefit scheme to ensure that parents of twins receive equal treatment; the estimate of the costs of same; the number of parents currently receiving child benefit for twins and the number in receipt of child benefit for multiple births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23386/04]

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I am assuming the Deputy is seeking parity of treatment for parents of twins with other parents of multiple births.

Prior to 1998, child benefit was payable at the normal rate for each child in the case of twins. However, a grant of €635, or £500, was payable at birth and further grants of €635 were payable when the twins reached the ages of four and 12. Child benefit was paid at double the normal rate where three or more children were born together. However, no birth grants were payable in the case of triplets.

In 1998, two key additional measures were introduced, designed to improve the overall package of benefits available to parents of multiple births. First, the €635 grants were extended to include families with multiple births of three or more children. Second, the rate of child benefit payable in respect of each twin was increased to one and a half times the normal child benefit rate.

Currently, double rate child benefit is in payment in respect of 270 sets of triplets, 11 sets of quadruplets and one set of quintuplets — 859 children in all. An increase to double the rate for twins as with other multiple births in respect of the 26,500 children involved would cost an estimated €22 million in a full year.

Any further changes in the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the context of priorities generally.

The very substantial investment in the child benefit scheme in recent years, including the historic increases since 2001, have benefited all families with children.

Dan Boyle

Question:

141 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will explain the policy whereby geographic areas can be designated by him as areas in which rent allowance will not apply. [23396/04]

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Rent supplements are paid under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered by the health boards subject to my general direction and control. Rent supplements are paid throughout the State. No geographic areas have been designated where rent supplement does not apply or is not available.

In the case of the Ballymun regeneration area, rent supplement is paid only with the prior agreement of the local authority. This is to ensure that the payment of rent supplement would not conflict with the housing strategy of that area. The decision was taken in response to a request from the members of the North West Area Committee of Dublin City Council, from Ballymun Neighbourhood Council and from the Minister with responsibility for housing and urban renewal.

The achievement of a housing tenure diversity and social mix within the residential developments of Ballymun are key objectives of the Ballymun regeneration plan. In this regard the development of a vibrant private rental sector is an important ingredient in securing these objectives. The overall housing strategy in the plan is to move Ballymun from being 100% social housing to that of a more typical city neighbourhood with a diversity of tenures ultimately arriving at a more sustainable social mix.

I would like to emphasise that rent supplement is still payable within the Ballymun area in any case where the housing authority considers it appropriate.

I would like to further emphasise that the decision to make rent supplement applications subject to the approval of the housing authority is consistent with the role of housing authorities in determining and providing for a person's housing need.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

142 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend the living alone allowance to persons in receipt of the retirement pension; and the cost of so extending this allowance. [23395/04]

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The living alone allowance is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments, including retirement pension, and who are living alone. It is also available to people under 66 years of age who are living alone and are receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes.

It is estimated that extending the living alone allowance to retirement pensioners aged 65 would cost in the order of €600,000 per annum. However, the position of other social welfare recipients aged 65 would also have to be considered in the context of such a change and this would add considerably to the estimated cost.

For many years the policy in relation to support for pensioners has been to commit resources to improving the personal pension rates for all pensioners, rather than supplementary payments such as the living alone allowance. This approach ensures that the position of all our pensioners is improved. Any change in policy in relation to the living alone allowance would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

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