Written answers

Thursday, 8 March 2007

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

5:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason spouses, partners or companions are not eligible to accompany free travel pass holders in Northern Ireland under the all-Ireland free travel scheme which has been recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9331/07]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have recently announced the implementation of the all-Ireland free travel scheme commencing from 2 April which will enable pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island. This new scheme will extend the existing cross-border free travel arrangements by allowing pensioners resident here travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. Likewise, pensioners in Northern Ireland will travel free of charge on transport services in this State. More than 600,000 customers are in receipt of free travel, of which 430,000 are aged over 66 years. The balance of 170,000 free travel recipients are under the age of 66 and so do not qualify for the new scheme. The All-Ireland Free Travel Scheme is based on the existence of criteria of entitlements to free travel North and South for pensioners over the age of 66 and applies only in this category. The extension of the scheme to an all-Ireland free service for over 66's represents a significant expansion in travel opportunities. I will continue to examine any opportunities to further improve and expand on what will, from 2 April, be a very comprehensive free travel scheme. Any additional developments would have to be worked out in conjunction with the authorities in Northern Ireland. The existing cross-border travel scheme, introduced in July 1995, continues to apply to all free travel pass holders, to enable them to make journeys to a point in the Republic of Ireland to a destination in Northern Ireland.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which current Irish recipients of a social welfare payment can qualify for adult dependent allowance in respect of a foreign national spouse living outside this State due to failure to meet immigration requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9375/07]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A qualified adult allowance is payable in addition to the personal rate of social insurance benefit or social assistance where a spouse or cohabiting partner is living with and is dependent on the beneficiary. There are limited circumstances where a person may receive a qualified adult allowance for a spouse where they are not living together — for example where the couple have separated and the spouse continues to be wholly or mainly maintained by the beneficiary, is not cohabiting with another person, does not have income in excess of the specified limit, and the support provided by the beneficiary is at least equal to the relevant rate of allowance. There is a general rule under the social welfare legislation that payment of a weekly social welfare payment is not made while the recipient or his/her qualified adult is absent from the State. However, payment may be allowed in certain specified circumstances and subject to certain conditions. For example, certain social insurance pensions such as State pension (contributory), State pension (transition); and invalidity pension which may include a qualified adult allowance can be payable abroad. Certain short-term social insurance benefits may also be payable abroad for brief periods, for example: illness benefit when the recipient has travelled abroad for the purpose of having treatment, or jobseeker's benefit or allowance for an annual holiday of up to two weeks. Thirdly, social insurance benefits which are awarded under EU Regulation 1408/71 may be payable to EEA nationals while resident in another Member State of the European Union. In each of these circumstances, payments abroad may include payment of the qualified adult allowance where the relevant conditions are shown to be satisfied.

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