Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

143 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the special mechanisms, if any, in place which would allow the provision of a free travel pass to individuals who have retired from the public service due to illness but who are not eligible for an invalidity pension. [4593/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The free travel scheme provides free travel, primarily at off-peak periods, to eligible people on the main public and private transport services. At the end of 1998, over 530,000 free travel passes had been issued at an annual cost of £32.6 million.

The scheme is available to all people living in the State, aged 66 years or over and to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance. From April 1999, the scheme will be available to carers of people in receipt of a constant attendance allowance or prescribed relatives allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of one of the following qualifying payments: invalidity pension; blind person's pension; disability allowance; unemployability supplement or workmen's compensation and supplement with disablement pension, for at least 12 months. A social security invalidity/incapacity pension-benefit, or an equivalent payment, for at least 12 months from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement.

People, including public servants, suffering from ill-health who do not fulfil the necessary PRSI conditions will not qualify for invalidity pension. However, disability allowance is paid to people, including public servants, with a disability who are aged 16 or over and under 66. Their disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a means test.

The free schemes were originally designed to benefit mainly older people in receipt of a social welfare type payment who were living alone and required additional assistance. However, over the years, additional categories of people have been included. It is proposed to undertake a fundamental review of the free schemes, including the free travel scheme, commencing in March 1999, to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner and the issue raised by the Deputy will be considered in that context.