Vol. 519 No. 7
116 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will have considerations made into reviewing the time restrictions on travel passes whereby those with passes cannot use them at certain times in the urban areas of Dublin, Cork and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14779/00]
The free travel 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 and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Time restrictions have been a feature of the free travel scheme since its inception. They do not, however, apply in the case of mentally handicapped people, people attending long-term rehabilitation courses or certain work experience programmes and certain other disabled or blind people. These people are issued with an unrestricted free travel pass, which enables them to travel during the normally restricted travel times.
117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a previous decision of his is now given as the technical reason for the refusal of unemployment benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14822/00]
The person concerned has been employed part-time for a number of years. She made a claim for unemployment assistance on 27 March 2000. Following an examination of her case by a deciding officer it was established that she had sufficient contributions to qualify for unemployment benefit. In accordance with social welfare regulations, unemployment benefit claims are examined to establish if there has been a substantial loss of employment. The deciding officer determined that she had not suffered a substantial loss of employment and accordingly her claim was disallowed.
The deciding officer disallowed her claim for unemployment assistance on the grounds that she was not available for or genuinely seeking employment.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal the decisions to the independent social welfare appeals office.
118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when one parent family allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/00]
The application for one-parent family payment by the person concerned is with a local inspector for investigation. In the course of the investigation, conflicting information as to the separation in this case has come to light. The inspector needs to interview the person's spouse to help resolve the issue and has notified her that he will call on Monday next, May 29.
On completion of all the necessary inquiries, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
