Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive the one parent family payment. [2100/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The one-parent family allowance payment claim from the person concerned is currently with a deciding officer of the Department. A decision will be made as soon as possible and she will be notified of the outcome.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who was on carer's benefit was not allowed to transfer to carer's allowance and the position regarding an appeal for same. [2163/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was awarded carer's benefit on the 10 July 2008. The decision to award carer's benefit was made at that time based on the medical evidence supplied by the person concerned. As his entitlement to carer's benefit was due to expire, he applied for carer's allowance in respect of the same care recipient. The Departments medical assessor, based on the latest medical information supplied, gave an opinion that the care recipient did not require full time care and attention as prescribed in the regulations. On 15 September 2010, the person concerned was refused carer's allowance. He was notified of this decision and the reason(s) for it.

He has appealed the decision and an appeal has been opened in this case. On 13 January 2011 his file was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office will be in contact with him directly regarding this appeal.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The free travel scheme is available to people aged 66 years or over, 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 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. The Health Service Executive may also assist with transport costs in certain circumstances.

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. I have no plans to extend the scheme to include single journeys with taxi companies.