Vol. 521 No. 2
130 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will ensure that the fuel allowance will be increased significantly, particularly in view of the ongoing and major increase in fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16810/00]
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are on long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A payment of £5 per week – £8 per week in smokeless zones – is made to eligible households for 26 weeks from mid October to mid-April.
To be eligible for assistance under the national fuel scheme, a person must satisfy a means test. A substantial improvement in the means test was introduced by me in the 1999 budget. A person may now have a combined household income of up to £30 per week or savings-investments of up to £22,400 over and above their pension and still qualify for fuel allowance.
Any increase in the rate of payment would have to be considered in light of the modest increase overall in domestic fuel prices since the current rate of the fuel allowance was set, taking into account the substantial increases in primary payment rates over the same period.
The national and smokeless fuel schemes were reviewed in 1998 as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The review group took the view that improvements in the national fuel scheme cannot be looked at in isolation from the improvements in the primary weekly payment rates. With regard to the payment rates, the group concluded that the rates of payment should remain unchanged if improvements in primary payment rates fully compensated recipients for all price inflation, including fuel price inflation. In that regard, substantial increases in all social welfare primary payments of either £3 or £6 per week were paid from June 1999. Further increases of either £4 or £7 took effect at the beginning of May 2000.
131 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a wife aged 63 who is an adult dependant of an old age pensioner aged 78, can qualify for a bus pass in her own right; if there were any recommendation on this in the recent review of the free schemes; and if he will make the necessary rule change in the next budget. [16814/00]
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the state aged 66 years, or over, 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 people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. The spouse or partner of the passholder may accompany the passholder free of charge when travelling. While a spouse, regardless of age, does benefit from being able to accompany the passholder, he or she is not a qualified person and has no underlying claim until he or she reaches the qualifying age.
The review considered that the main objective of the free travel scheme is to encourage older people and people with disabilities to remain independent and active within the community, thereby reducing the need for institutional care. The fact that a spouse can accompany the passholder is a positive aspect of the scheme, which should encourage greater mobility. The review concluded, however, that to extend the free travel scheme to spouses, regardless of age, would be outside the objectives of the scheme and discriminate against other groups such as single people, who cannot avail of the pass until reaching the qualifying age. In the circumstances, there are no plans to introduce the change sought by the Deputy.
