Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend free travel to older Irish emigrants, at the very least to Irish pensioners living in the UK, when they return here on their holidays in view of the fact that a common travel area has always existed between Ireland and the UK which predates the formation of the EU, thus meaning no discrimination against other EU citizens; and his views on whether there is no legal, moral or financial impediment to grant this concession to emigrants in view of the fact that they are already in receipt of an Irish pension and in further view of the recent announcement that Irish persons abroad will receive the President's 100th birthday cheque. [17718/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. Persons resident in the State who are in receipt of a social security, invalidity or disability payment from a country covered by EU regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and who have been in receipt of this payment for at least 12 months, are also eligible for free travel.

The scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by more than 80 private transport operators. The free travel scheme applies to travel within the State and point-to-point cross-Border journeys between here and Northern Ireland. In line with the Government objective to put in place an all-Ireland free travel scheme for pensioners resident in all parts of this island, I am committed to improving the North-South element of the current arrangements significantly and hope to be in a position to make an announcement about this soon.

There have been a number of requests for and inquiries about the extension of entitlement to free travel in Ireland to Irish-born people living outside Ireland or to those in receipt of pensions from my Department, especially in the UK, when they return to Ireland for a visit. I am continuing to explore all aspects of a possible approach and hope to have a definite answer soon.

In regard to the centenarians' bounty, the Government has approved in principle the extension of the scheme for the payment of the centenarians' bounty to any Irish citizen who was born in the island of Ireland, regardless of where he or she may currently reside. Up to now the bounty, which amounts to €2,500, was payable only to centenarians living in the State. The bounty is a discretionary grant and not a service or scheme and accordingly does not come within the scope of the EU treaty. In this way, it differs from the proposed extension of the free travel scheme.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I hoped he would have news on a breakthrough in the North-South free travel issue. However, he is also anxious to do something regarding the east-west dimension. The common travel area between Ireland and the UK predated the EU but his legal advice is that providing free travel between both countries would discriminate against citizens of other EU states who could not avail of this concession. This common travel area was jealously guarded by Ireland under the Schengen Agreement and that should have precedence.

A European Parliament spokesman stated legal advice had been provided that if Ireland did not provide free travel to the 37,000 pensioners living in the UK who are in receipt of an Irish pension, it would discriminate against them. They could launch a legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Tribunal or the European Court of Justice. The emigrants in receipt of pensions will also receive the centenarian bounty from now on and he would not discriminate against them if he extended the free travel scheme to cover them. It would be great to do that.

What is the Minister's thinking on this? I appreciate he is anxious to extend the scheme but this is a moral debt. These pensioners contributed £2 billion sterling between 1975 and 1995. The task force placed great symbolic significance on this because it said it would mean so much to emigrants, particularly when they return on holidays. The common travel area provision is the Government's out on this, particularly since these people are in receipt of an Irish pension and will receive the bounty.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I compliment the Deputy on his great work in this area. He does a great deal of work with our emigrants in the UK and elsewhere and he is genuine about this issue, like everybody else. The legal position is that it would not be possible under EU legislation to extend free travel to all Irish citizens in the UK because that would mean discriminating in favour of our own nationality. That remains the EU position, although I have asked for it to be re-examined. However, thanks to Members pushing the issue, I have had a number of discussions on whether it would be possible to extend the scheme to the 37,000 emigrants in the UK who are in receipt of an Irish contributory pension and the 3,000 elsewhere. I am waiting on an EU ruling in this regard but I noticed a reply to the Sinn Féin Member of the European Parliament recently, which indicated clearly it would be possible to do this. I cannot be definitive but I am confident that I will be able to extend free travel to those in receipt of Irish contributory pensions around the world. The European Commission should make a ruling on this in the next few weeks. If I can resolve that, I can return to the broader battle, but the legal advice is strong on it.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to Question No. 19 of 2 February 2006, if his Department has completed its examination of Barnardos research into young carers; if his Department has come to conclusions on supports for young carers as a result of same; the action he intends to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17795/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have examined the research in question by Barnardos and the Children's Research Centre, which was published in September 2004. I was struck that of the estimated 3,000 young carers providing care, more than 300 aged between 15 and 17 provide full-time care. It is clear this group needs appropriate supports.

The Barnardos report recommended that further research should be undertaken on numbers of young carers, the supports available to them, their needs and the impact of their caring role on their education and general development; policy relating to young carers should be a matter for the Department of Health and Children with services being delivered by the Health Service Executive; the physical and sensory database should record cases where significant care responsibility is being undertaken by a young carer; care supports should be provided where families rely on young carers to enable them to participate fully in their studies, social life and social contacts with their peers; emotional and psychological support should be made available to young carers; pilot schemes should be established to see how services could be best developed; and a public awareness programme and an information campaign directed at health, education and social services professionals should be undertaken.

Special help, advice and support is essential for young carers who are often caring for a parent and, in particular, that services must be put in place to support the household and to ensure young carers remain at school. These include the services of home helps, public health nurses and home care packages generally, which are a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. The report of the long-term care working group is being considered by the Government. This group was established by the Minister for Health and Children and me in January 2005 to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care. It comprises senior officials of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and my Department. My officials have brought the issue of young carers to the attention of the working group.

Supports for carers from my Department include the respite care grant and the carer's allowance. The respite care grant, which is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention, is payable from age 16. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but it is subject to certain qualifying conditions. The value of the grant will increase from €1,000 to €1,200 from June 2006. Carer's allowance, which provides income support to people who are providing certain older people or people with a disability with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit, is payable from age 18.

I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available. I will continue to review the issues raised by Barnardos and the Children's Research Centre and other bodies representing carers and I will strive to bring forward proposals that recognise the valued and valuable contribution of all carers in a tangible way.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I sincerely thank the Minister for following up on this issue but I urge him to do more. How many of the 300 full-time carers aged between 15 and 17 are in receipt of the respite care grant, given that they are eligible for the grant when they turn 16? The Minister said he would discuss this issue with the Minsters for Health and Children and Education and Science when I raised it on 9 February. Has he raised it with them and, if so, what was the outcome of those discussions? Has he examined the supports provided for young carers in other jurisdictions? In the UK, for instance, they are eligible for financial aid and while that is not the answer, at least they are getting support. Does the Minister agree virtually no support is provided to young carers in Ireland? Young carers are provided with great support in Australia.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy published a document on this issue recently, which I will continue to examine. I pointed out the last time we discussed this matter that we need to be careful. The figures indicate 300 carers are aged between 15 and 17, none of whom is in receipt of the carer's allowance because one must be 18 years to be eligible. However, eligibility for the respite care grant was fixed at 16 years to be helpful. I do not know what proportion of the 300 full-time carers are aged under 16 but perhaps it could be 50%. A third to a half of those would get the respite grant.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Can the Minister find out?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Yes I can. We are dealing with those of the group of 300 between 15 and 17 who are under 16. A third to a half would be a good guess.

There is a senior group of officials looking at long-term care. I raised the issue of young carers with that group and they have taken it into consideration. The bottom line is that young carers should be at school. We need to think long and hard before we have a financial provision in place. A full range of services is needed from several Departments to make sure that they look after their studies and their social life. While it might be good for the person needing the care, it is not in the short-term good for the young carer. Young carers should not have to do this work and should be able to continue with education.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I urge the Minister to press this issue. Does he agree that this is a hidden group? There is no virtually no support for them at the moment. It is essential they receive support because their educational, emotional and social development can be damaged by the work that they must undertake because of the lack of support from the State. Can the Minister give a commitment that he will make this a priority at Cabinet level?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Barnardos' first recommendation is to carry out more research on this. We need to get a clear fix on how many people are involved and the circumstances in which they find themselves.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister do that?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. It is not just a matter of extending the carer's allowances, because a much broader solution is needed for this.