Written answers

Tuesday, 6 December 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the correct amount of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37905/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive, which administers the rent supplement scheme on my behalf, has advised that its appeals officer decided in early November 2005 to uphold the decision to award the person concerned rent supplement rate of €65.20 per month. This rate was based on her household circumstances as then known. However, as there were indications at the appeal hearing that her household composition may have changed, the executive wrote to the person concerned on 9 November 2005 seeking further details. She has not contacted the local community welfare officer yet with the information sought. When the information requested is received, her rent supplement rate will be reviewed.

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason free bus passes are made available to individuals at the age of 66 when normal retirement age is at 65. [37947/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus 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 the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension.

The household benefits package of free schemes, including the free travel scheme, was introduced during the period from 1967 to 1977 for those in receipt of old age pension from this Department. In the period 1973 to 1977 the age at which a person became eligible for old age pensions was progressively reduced from age 70 to age 66 and the age at which a person received the household benefits package and free travel was reduced accordingly. The Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 defines "pensionable age" as being 66 years of age. Any reduction in the pension age and, consequently, the age at which a person becomes entitled to free travel would have expenditure implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.

Significant improvements have been made to the household benefits package of free schemes, including the free travel scheme, in recent budgets in terms of both the qualifying conditions and the coverage of the schemes. I will continue to review the operation of these schemes with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements as resources permit.

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