Written Answers Nos. 49-55
49. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an application from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33466/15]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 27 May 2015. The first payment will be made by his selected payment method on 7 October 2015.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
50. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the action she will take to ensure that the senior citizens and disabled travellers who use the free travel scheme do not suffer a reduced public transport service, given the change of policy regarding the tendering of public transport routes; if her Department will ensure that any bus company awarded a public service obligation route will continue to accommodate persons on the free travel pass scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33467/15]
View answerThe current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by approximately 80 private transport operators. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland, and within Northern Ireland for those aged 66 years and over. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. There are currently approximately 836,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €77 million.
I appreciate the importance of the scheme and the value it provides to the hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly people who use it. While the privatisation of public transport services is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, it is my understanding that any tendering process will include a requirement for successful bidders to accept the free travel pass. As regards routes with PSO funding, including routes previously operated by CIE, it is my intention that private operators will continue to be able to apply to participate in the free travel scheme.
51. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently examine an application for an invalidity pension from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as the person has submitted all relevant information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33469/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 11 September 2015. The claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome.
Questions Nos. 52 and 53 withdrawn.
54. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a review of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33482/15]
View answerFollowing a review of the continuing eligibility to carer’s allowance (CA) of the person in question, a deciding officer (DO) decided that CA was no longer payable because the person in question was engaged in work outside of the home for in excess of 15 hours a week, contrary to the statutory conditions of the scheme.
The person concerned was notified of this revised decision on 17 April 2015, the reasons for it and of his rights of review and appeal.
Following a request for review, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to interview the person in question and to provide the DO with a report on all the circumstances. The SWI has recently submitted the requested report to the DO. The review of the decision to disallow CA will be carried out as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If the outcome of the review is to confirm the original decision to disallow CA, the person in question will retain the right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
55. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to an appeal for a contributory pension in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33492/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 April 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 9 September 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
