Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the rate for living alone allowance has not increased for several years; and his plans to increase same. [19631/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs people face when they live alone. The policy in relation to support for pensioners has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible rather than focusing on particular groups. This approach was continued in Budget 2007 with increases of up to €16 and €18 per week granted on personal rates. The policy is subject to review and I will consider the position in the context of the next budget.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the support currently available to wheelchair users whose only means of transport are taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19638/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is responsible for developing specific social welfare schemes for people with disabilities to ensure that they have an adequate, secure and sustainable income and related supports so as to ensure their full participation in society. This is achieved principally through the contribution based Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and the non-contributory Disability Allowance. A range of secondary benefits, such as the Free Travel Pass for those on Invalidity pension or Disability Allowance, are also provided while the Supplementary Welfare Allowance provides a means-tested safety net payment.

Access to transport is an important prerequisite for people with disabilities in participating more fully in society in general and a number of Government Departments have responsibility for transport issues. For example, the Department of Transport is responsible for issues in relation to accessibility while, as indicated above, my Department is responsible for the Free Travel Pass. In addition, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance could be used, at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officer and on the basis of an 'exceptional needs payment', to assist with the cost of taxis on a once-off basis in exceptional circumstances. However, in relation to specific non-public transport costs for people with disabilities, the Health Services Executive, under the Department of Health and Children, currently administers the Mobility Allowance, which is a means-tested payment aimed at providing financial assistance towards transport costs including taxi costs.