Vol. 573 No. 1
91 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when there was an increase in the living alone allowance; the plans she has to increase it in budget 2004; the annual cost of this allowance; and the number of persons who currently avail of it. [24333/03]
The living alone allowance is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people under 66 years of age who are living alone and are receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes.
The allowance was last increased in 1996. The policy in relation to support for older people has been to commit resources to improving the personal pension rates for all pensioners.
At present there are just over 136,000 people receiving the living alone allowance. The majority are over 66 years of age with about 17,000 aged under 66 receiving invalidity type payments. The annual cost of the allowance is about €55.5 million. Any increase in the allowance would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
92 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the right of same sex partners to entitlement to free travel after a recent judgment of the Equality Authority. [24300/03]
95 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to arrange for cross-Border use of the free travel pass to allow pass holders travel freely between the Republic and Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24224/03]
100 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made in relation to reciprocal arrangements for free travel or concessionary travel for pensioners here, within Britain and throughout the European Union. [24201/03]
106 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to put in place an all-Ireland travel scheme for pensioners resident in all parts of this island. [24331/03]
278 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will give consideration to extending the free schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24569/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 95, 100, 106 and 278 together.
The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. It is also available to carers and to people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. It applies to travel within the State and cross-Border journeys between here and Northern Ireland.
Under the free travel scheme a person aged 66 or over who is married or co-habiting is entitled to a free travel pass which allows a spouse or partner to accompany him or her free of charge when travelling on public transport services. The Department has now amended its free travel scheme guidelines to extend the same benefits to same-sex cohabiting couples as previously applied to opposite-sex cohabiting couples. This amendment was introduced to comply with the Equal Status Act 2000. The Department is now examining other non-statutory schemes to ensure that they are fully in compliance with the Equal Status Act 2000.
The free travel scheme, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland concessionary travel scheme, provides free travel on cross-Border routes for pass holders of both jurisdictions. This scheme applies to cross-Border journeys and not to travel exclusively within either jurisdiction.
Implementation of an all-Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners resident in all parts of this island will require detailed discussions and agreements with the relevant authorities and transport providers on both sides of the Border. Preparatory work on this proposal will be commencing shortly.
