Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for carer's allowance, respite care, respite grant, unemployment benefit and jobseeker's allowances received in each of the past two years to date in 2009; the numbers granted, refused or pending on a monthly basis in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34562/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the deputy is contained in the following tabular statements.

Note: Numbers Pending at months end are not a sum of the above figures. Claims may be closed for a variety of reasons, for example if they are withdrawn.

Note: Numbers Pending at months end are not a sum of the above figures. Claims may be closed for a variety of reasons, for example if they are withdrawn.

Note: Numbers pending at months end are not a sum of the above figures. Claims may be closed for a variety of reasons, for example if they are withdrawn.

*The total number of applications pending at end-September 2009 was 885. It is not possible to determine the number of applications pending on a monthly basis, retrospective to 2008.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she favours the proposal to boost Irish tourism by offering free travel to British old age pensioners visiting here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32279/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The current free travel scheme operated by the Department provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.

While the scheme is free for those who are eligible, all of the transport companies involved, including CIE, are paid for the service by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The estimated cost of the scheme in 2009 is €76.4 million. Any extension of the scheme to include other EU citizens would have considerable cost implications. Under EU law, it would not be possible to provide free travel only to British old age pensioners as this would discriminate on the basis of nationality.

Given the current economic situation, I have no immediate plans to extend the free travel scheme to British or other EU citizens in the absence of an agreed and appropriately funded EU wide reciprocal arrangement.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs he plans in relation to the abolition or amendments of entitlement to treatment benefit. [34413/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal to discontinue or amend entitlement to the treatment benefit scheme will be considered as part of the Estimates and Budget process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.