Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the issuing of free travel passes to elderly Irish-born emigrants when they return here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27062/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The free travel scheme is available to all people aged 66 years or over who are permanently residing in the State. It is also available to carers and to people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Accordingly, those emigrants who return to live permanently in the State are entitled to free travel.

Any extension to the free travel scheme for temporary visits would have financial implications and be difficult to administer effectively. Any proposal of that kind could only be considered in a budgetary context and taking account of other needs and priorities.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the Southern Health Board has refused a person (details supplied) in County Cork a diet allowance in view of the fact that their only income is social welfare benefit and they cannot afford the special diet that they require for their medical condition. [27133/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The amount of supplement payable depends on which of two categories of diet, that is, a lower cost diet costing €44 per week or higher cost diet costing €57 per week, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, as well as on the income of the individual and his-her dependents. In the case of a single person with no dependants, a supplement is payable if the cost of the prescribed diet is more than one third of the applicant's income.

The Southern Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the application by the person concerned for a diet supplement was refused on the grounds that his income is sufficient to meet his dietary needs, as the cost of the diet that he has been prescribed is less than one third of his income.

The board has further advised that the person concerned was unsuccessful in his appeal against this decision. The basis for the diet allowance and related matters will be reviewed when a report commissioned from Dr. Muireann Cullen of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, is finalised at the end of November.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the supplementary welfare allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of financial difficulties. [27204/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income.

The North Western Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned applied for assistance in respect of replacing household appliances but was refused. The board has further advised that the person concerned has appealed against the decision to the health boards appeals officer.

The determination of entitlement to exceptional needs payments is a matter for the health board and neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 is entitled to receive assistance towards essential repairs of an existing Bord Gáis heating system in their home. [26815/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income. In certain circumstances a board will provide assistance towards the cost of minor repairs but the scale of repair in question does not appear to fall into this category. Alternatively, support might be sought through the essential repairs grant scheme operated by local authorities which provides assistance to elderly and disabled people towards necessary repairs.