asked the Minister for Social Welfare if with special reference to the case of a person (name supplied) he will amend legislation in relation to free travel for old age pensioners so as to include people over 70 years of age who, while they have lived all their lives in Donegal, get Northern Ireland old age pensions by virtue of having worked in Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Free Travel Facilities.
99.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave on 19th October, 1967 to a question of a somewhat similar nature put down by him in relation to persons receiving British retirement pensions. I have nothing to add to what I said on that occasion.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free travel facilities available for old age pensioners to include their dependent wives who have not attained the age of 70 years.
The scheme of free travel was devised primarily for the benefit of pensioners aged 70 and over and as the Deputy is no doubt aware, the dependent wives, aged 70 and over, of old age (contributory) pensioners are included in the scheme. I do not propose to include those dependent wives who are under the age of 70.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, as there are now only 211 resigned or dismissed RIC pensioners and 32 widows of former pensioners, he will grant the same free travel facilities to these people as are granted to old age pensioners.
The scheme of free travel applies only to persons in receipt of pensions from my Department. A number of persons thus eligible for free travel also receive RIC and other statutory pensions. The scheme is being kept under review but, until adequate experience of its operation has been obtained, it is not proposed to extend it to include any further classes or groups of persons.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in the case of inmates of old people's institutions, such as Nazareth House, Mallow, County Cork where the pension books are held by the institution authorities, he will issue special vouchers so that the people concerned will be able to avail of the old age pensioners' free travel scheme in their journeys to the local town and on visits to their relatives.
The method of operation of the free travel scheme was given careful consideration when the scheme was being devised and a full examination indicated that the use of the pension book, rather than a travel voucher or pass, had most to recommend it. I do not propose to make any change in the arrangements. The pension book is the property of the pensioner and his pension book should be readily available to any pensioner capable of undertaking, and wishing to undertake, a journey covered by the free travel scheme.
Is it not true that the inmates of these establishments hand up their pension books and are therefore unable to avail of the free travel?
I would not agree with that. I know these charitable institutions are doing a good job and I do not want to indict them. However, before a person can appoint an agent to draw his pension, it must be proved that the person is suffering some incapacity. Any pensioner capable of travelling should not have an agent.
Because the good nuns in charge of many of these establishments have been kind enough, the practice has grown up of handing up the pension books and having them act as agents. It is a practice the old age pensioner follows in good faith. But now it means that if the pensioner desires to leave the institution and visit his relatives by public transport, he has to let the people in charge know by asking for his pension book. This is wrong inasmuch as the old age pensioner, in order to preserve his dignity, should be in a position to get on the bus to visit his relatives without telling anybody, if he so desires. I am not saying this against the Minister, but in order to preserve the dignity of the pensioner. Would it not be better if he could get on the bus without having to go to the reverend mother and ask for his pension book like a small boy?
I do not want to go into this too deeply, but I do not think any difficulty is being experienced in cases where the book is handed up for safe keeping. Many of them hand over their books and have no difficulty in repossessing them without describing the purpose for which they are wanted. In any event I think the regulations in these institutions require the inmates to report their absence.
It means they are back at school at 70 plus.
No. The motherly care these people get in these institutions sometimes requires that these facilities are voluntarily provided. If an agent is appointed, the person must be incapacitated.
Many of these pensioners appointed these people as agents before there was any free travel. Now if the inmate wants to visit his relatives he must ask the reverend mother for his book.
The information I have in regard to some institutions of which I have personal knowledge is that it has been announced to the pensioners they are entitled to this any time they wish to avail of it.
I still say the pensioners should be in an independent position.