Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. I welcome the changes that have been made to the fuel allowance for the over-70s. They are really positive and will help an awful lot of people. As regards the processing, a few people who had their applications in have not yet heard anything. I appreciate that many applications have been made and that everyone will get it where they are supposed to get it; that is not an issue. Could the Minister state where the applications are at as regards processing times at the moment and how many people have been awarded the fuel allowance for the over-70s out of the number of applications that have been received?

I will not get into the free travel scheme. Everyone knows what the issue is. It has been raised before. The Minister previously committed to look at the question of access to the free travel scheme for people with epilepsy. Could she give any update on that? I appreciate it is complex because there are lots of other conditions people have. This is a condition in which a person cannot drive. That is the problem here.