Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the free travel scheme and the amounts paid to each transport provider in each of the past three years [38423/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is being compiled by officials in my Department and will be communicated directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the information services available to a jobseeker to enable them to make an informed decision on the value of in-work benefits and the cost of welfare withdrawal and taxes under different in-work income scenarios; if a ready-reckoner is available to jobseekers for this purpose; if an advice service is available to jobseekers for this purpose and if so, the way it can be accessed; if specific training is provided to front-line staff dealing with such queries on calculating income tax, PRSI, income levies, medical card entitlement, and means-testing family income supplement, rent supplement, mortgage interest supplement, back to school clothing and footwear allowance and other potential in-work benefits in order that a complete and accurate picture can be provided to jobseekers; and if a statement is issued to jobseekers in such circumstances [38425/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The primary objective of the Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. The Department operates a network of some 125 local and branch offices throughout the country. Each local office has officers who are dedicated to providing information and are available to explain supports and services to people. Information officers provide a range of information to customers on their entitlements including, in broad terms, the effect that taking up work may have on their social welfare payments. While local office staff have a deep knowledge of social welfare schemes, they may not be in a position to advise customers on the specific financial effect of taking up employment, particularly as it relates to issues such as income tax, income levies or potential in-work benefits.

In addition, the Department's network of facilitators work closely with FÁS and other agencies at a local level to identify and target appropriate education, training and development opportunities for people. This locally-based service is supported by a central Information Unit which operates a LoCall information line (1890 66 22 44) which customers may call for information and guidance on their entitlements. The Department produces a comprehensive range of information leaflets and booklets and these are available in a wide range of outlets, including Social Welfare Offices, Citizens Information Centres and Post Offices. Leaflets can also be requested through the Department's website. The Department's website, www.welfare.ie, contains full information on its range of schemes and services, including jobseekers supports, and has a 'Frequently Asked Questions' section dedicated to Jobseekers; this section of the site is available in English, Irish and Polish and provides answers to some of the most common queries the Department receives on topics such as taxation of benefits and on options available regarding training, employment, self-employment and voluntary work.

Jobseeker customers can now close their claim online and customers doing so are provided with a link to a dedicated page, listing the supports that may be available to them on return to the workforce, such as Family Income Supplement, Money Advice and Budgeting Service, etc. This page is also linked to from many other relevant pages on the site.

Funding is also provided annually to the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) to produce their booklet "Working for Work", which contains full information on jobseekers payments, the training and development options available to jobseekers as well as advice on job searching, tax and other social services provided by other Departments and agencies. INOU provides free copies of the "Working for Work" booklet to people in receipt of social welfare payments.

The Citizens Information Board, which comes under the aegis of the Department, is the national information agency with responsibility for supporting the provision of independent information and advice on the broad range of social services including social welfare services. Information is provided through Citizen Information Centres and other offices throughout the country, through the Citizens Information Phone Service (1890 777 121) which operates from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and on their website at www.citizensinformation.ie. The Citizens Information Board recently launched a new website dedicated to people recently made unemployed, called www.losingyourjob.ie. This site provides a single point of information for anyone looking for assistance with unemployment or reduced hours. The Department does not provide a ready-reckoner to customers in order to calculate the financial effect of taking up work.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the household benefits package in each of the past three years and the amounts paid to each utility company or service provider or other provider in each of these years [38426/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The total cost of the household benefits package for 2007, 2008 and 2009 is as follows:

The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, telephone allowance and free television licence. The allowances are paid as a direct credit on customers' bills where possible. Where this is not possible, monthly cash payments are made directly to customers' nominated post office or financial account. The amount paid direct to each service provider for the period 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out in the following table:

*Payments refer to a manual based system which facilitated direct payment on bills for a limited number of customers. Customers with Airtricity and in receipt of the electricity allowance are paid a monthly cash payment.