Willie Penrose
Ceist:59 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to extend all free schemes to widows and widowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18873/99]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
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. This includes an examination of the qualifying conditions for the schemes, the target group and the scope for alternative policy arrangements.
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 the context of budget 2000.
It is expected that the research conducted will be formally published by the policy institute in the Trinity Studies in Public Policy series in January 2000.