Vol. 575 No. 5
202 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if free telephone rental allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28772/03]
The person concerned is in receipt of a one-parent family payment for himself and his two children. He is also in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance from the health board in respect of one child.
The one-parent family payment is not a qualifying scheme for entitlement to the household benefits package that people under the pension age of 66 years receives. Therefore, the person concerned is not eligible for telephone allowance or other household benefits. However, it is open to him to apply for a carer's allowance that, if granted, would attract household benefits and free travel.
203 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the current conditions for eligibility for the back to work allowance; and if she has changed it in the context of the provision for 2004 published in her Department's Estimates. [28794/03]
Last year the allowance was reviewed in the light of economic and labour market changes and, in particular, the drop in unemployment levels since the introduction of the allowance in 1993. The review also took cognisance of an evaluation of the scheme by independent consultants. They recommended restructuring of the scheme in the light of the transformed labour market situation and, in particular, that it should be refocused on the long-term unemployed. They also recommended that non-financial supports be enhanced and a reduction in the overall numbers on the scheme. Following the review the qualifying period for persons on unemployment benefit-assistance was increased to five years with effect from 1 January. I will continue to monitor the scheme but I have made no changes to the existing qualifying criteria in the context of the 2004 Estimates.
