Bernard Allen
Ceist:177 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of all national lottery funding allocated to Cork city and county since the national lottery began operating.
Written Answers. - National Lottery Funding.
My Department are responsible for a number of schemes of support for voluntary and community groups which are funded from the national lottery. Allocations under these schemes are not made on a county basis. They depend on the number and nature of the applications received, with priority of areas of greatest disadvantage. Allocations are made following consultations with the relevant health boards where appropriate, and discussions with the voluntary and community based groups involved.
Details of grants approved in the Southern Health Board area since the national lottery began operating are as follows:
25 under the scheme of grants to voluntary bodies (£102,900); 32 under the scheme of grants for locally-based women's groups (£32,550); 4 under the community development projects (£126,500); 1 under the co-operative housing scheme (£15,000); 2 under the special once-off budget allocation to voluntary organisations (£30,000).
Bernard Allen
Ceist:178 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free travel concession in such a way as to allow a spouse of the recipient of the free travel to travel independently by adjusting the cards to include the photographs of the couple.
Free travel under my Department's scheme is available to all persons resident in the State who are aged 66 years and over and also to certain incapacitated persons. The husband or wife of the pensioner may also travel free when accompanying the free travel passholder. Spouses over the age of 66 qualify for a free travel pass in their own right.
The question of allowing a spouse under the age of 66 to travel free of charge independently of the passholder would have significant implications for the financing of the free travel scheme and could only be considered if the necessary resources were available.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:179 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to optical benefit.
The person concerned, and his spouse, are currently entitled to optical benefit. An approval notification for this benefit has now been issued.