Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding persons (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18178/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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 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.

In this case the person concerned is over 66 and has a free travel pass. As he has a married person's pass his wife may travel on the same journey with him at no cost to them. The person's wife is under 66 and is not in receipt of a qualifying payment, so she does not qualify for a free travel pass in her own right. She must be accompanied by her husband in order to avail of free travel. The main objective of the free travel scheme is to encourage older people and people with disabilities to remain independent and active in the community, thereby reducing the need for institutional care. The purpose of allowing pass holders to be accompanied while travelling is to facilitate further this mobility. The extension of the scheme to allow the pass holder's spouse to travel alone would not be in keeping with this objective.

The operation of the free travel scheme will continue to be reviewed with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will assist in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [18032/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that there is no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If she wishes to make an application for rent supplement she should contact the local community welfare officer so that her entitlement can be examined.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason jobseekers allowance was not awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a two week period; and when they can expect to receive this money. [18060/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was paid jobseeker's allowance for the maximum two-week holiday period while he was in the United Kingdom. However, he remained outside the state for a further period and sustained a loss of 8 days jobseeker's allowance from 22 April to 30 April 2008 inclusive. He contacted his local Social Welfare office on 1 May 2008 and is in receipt of the allowance from that date.