Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 974: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the free travel scheme is available for Irish pensioners who worked in Ireland for years, emigrated to England, but are now regular visitors here; and the position regarding this issue. [28259/06]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 979: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made to extend free travel to elderly or disabled Irish emigrants returning to Ireland for holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28499/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 974 and 979 together.

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. People 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.

There have been a number of requests and enquiries in relation to 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, particularly in the UK, when they return to Ireland for a visit. I have been advised that it would not be possible to extend entitlement to free travel simply to Irish born people living abroad as to do so would be contrary to European legislation which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of nationality. I have raised the issue with the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs and officials from my Department met with European Commission officials on two occasions in an effort to clarify the legal issues involved. I am keeping this issue under review and contacts with the European Commission are ongoing.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 975: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to amend the free fuel schemes in view of recent increased electricity and gas prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28331/06]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 1020: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the means test for persons aged over 70 no longer applies to applicants of the household benefits package and in particular the free fuel allowance, as outlined in his press statement of 11 September 2006 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29244/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1028: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals in regard to increasing the free electricity and free gas subsidies as operated under the free scheme programme by his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 975, 1020 and 1028 together.

The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity/gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test.

The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement to ensure that households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify for the household benefits package regardless of their income or household composition.

Earlier this month the Government announced improvements in the household benefits package to protect recipients from the increased costs of gas and electricity. As a result of these improvements, the present entitlement of 1,800 free units of electricity per annum will be increased to 2,400 free units per annum from 1 January 2007. There will also be pro rata increases for customers who avail of the gas allowance and these will come into effect on 1 October 2006. The allowances will continue to include payment of the standing charges. I am confident that these increases will be of major benefit to these recipients.