Vol. 508 No. 1
632 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 has not received disability allowance or other secondary benefits; the position in relation to an application by this person for disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17329/99]
The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 16 August 1999. Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test.
While the person concerned satisfies the medical criteria for the award of disability allowance his means have yet to be determined. Arrangements have been made by a social welfare inspector to obtain details of his means on Tuesday, 28 September 1999. On receipt of this information a decision on his entitlement to disability allowance and secondary benefits will be made immediately.
633 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to introduce free schemes to persons in receipt of a retirement pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17332/99]
634 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the changes, if any, he proposes in the free travel pass arrangements. [17335/99]
636 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will confirm that subsequent to the IPO of Telecom Éireann there are no proposals to alter the free telephone rental allowance scheme; if it will operate as heretofore for those eligible under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17421/99]
653 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will respond favourably to the representations received from Crosscare Carer Awareness and Action Group to extend the free travel pass to enable former recipients of the carer's allowance who do not qualify for free travel to retain the free pass while the person they are caring for is hospitalised on a long-term basis. [17578/99]
667 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the position of retired staff over 66 from State and semi-State bodies who do not have a social welfare pension and are refused the free schemes; if he will consider increasing the £30 threshold and applying net rather than gross wages as it particularly militates against single and widowed staff; the estimated annual cost if the £30 figure is increased to (i) £60 and (ii) £100; the estimated annual cost if the free schemes were made available to all retired public servants over 66; if this matter can or is being considered in the free schemes review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17636/99]
686 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when the review of the free electricity, telephone and other such schemes will be completed; and whether it will be published. [17869/99]
690 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the consideration, if any, given to extending the free schemes to widows and widowers under the age of 65; the numbers involved and the associated cost; the consideration, if any, given to extending these schemes to widows and widowers in the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17976/99]
697 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend entitlement to a travel bus pass to persons under age 65 on occupational and State or semi-State invalidity pensions; if this is under consideration in the review of the free schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18209/99]
700 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will make available to pensioners in receipt of occupational pensions the secondary benefits of free electricity allowance, free television licence and free telephone rental allowance. [18332/99]
It is proposed to take Questions No. 633, 634, 636, 653, 667, 686, 690, 697, and 700 together.
A fundamental review of the free schemes is being carried out to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner.
The terms of reference of the review includes an examination of the qualifying conditions for the schemes and the scope for alternative policy arrangements. The issues raised by the Deputies are being addressed as part of the review process.
The review of the free schemes, which is already at an advanced stage, is being carried out by an official of my Department on secondment, as a visiting research fellow at the policy institute, Trinity College, Dublin. The conclusions of the review will be considered in a budgetary context, if appropriate.
The research conducted will be published in the Trinity Studies in Public Policy series.
