Vol. 465 No. 7
105 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the financial assistance, if any, available to the parents of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1, both of whom are in receipt of social welfare payments, towards the cost of a £2,500 drug rehabilitation programme for their son and/or the cost of travel in respect of the parents who participate in this programme in Wexford on one day per week for four weeks. [10514/96]
The parents concerned are currently in receipt of social welfare payments. The father is in receipt of an invalidity pension at the maximum personal rate of £64.20 per week and his wife is in receipt of unemployment benefit at the maximum personal rate of £62.50 per week. The person in question is himself in receipt of unemployment benefit at the maximum personal rate of £62.50 per week.
The responsibility for drug rehabilitation programmes rests with the Department of Health and the health boards and there is no assistance available under the social welfare system for the cost of such programmes. However, in relation to the travel costs of the parents concerned, the father currently holds a free travel pass as part of his invalidity entitlement. The travel pass also entitles his wife to free travel when travelling with him.
