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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

308 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the extent to which free travel is available to people living in areas without public transport; the extent to which he intends to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31931/01]

The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by semi-State companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as services provided by some 80 private transport operators. The vast majority of these private contractors operate in rural areas. My Department is always willing to consider further applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme.

Two main groups have difficulties in accessing public transport, those who have a disability which prevents them using the service and those for whom a service does not exist which mainly affects those living in rural areas. This problem, which is unrelated to the free travel scheme, is part of a wider social and infrastructure problem, affecting all those who are disadvantaged and who can neither afford their own transport nor avail of access to public transport.

While my Department pays transport providers to operate the free travel scheme, it is not in a position to provide services where none exist, nor is it in a position to provide vehicles accessible to people with disabilities. These are matters for the transport providers concerned and for my colleague the Minister for Public Enterprise who has responsibility for public transport.

In this regard, an interdepartmental committee on rural transport chaired by the Department of Public Enterprise is considering issues relating to the availability of transport services in rural areas. I understand the committee will report in the new year.

In addition, my colleague the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, announced an important rural transport initiative last July. A sum of £3.5 million – 4.44 million – has been provided under the national development plan to support the development of pilot public transport initiatives in rural areas. The aim of the funding is to encourage innovative community-based initiatives to provide transport services in rural areas with a view to addressing the issue of social exclusion in rural Ireland which is caused by lack of access to transport. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Public Enterprise on the role the free travel scheme can play in supporting these pilot projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

309 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will improve the means test in respect of qualification for disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31932/01]

Since responsibility for the main means tested payment for people with disabilities, that is, the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme, was transferred from the health boards to my Department in October 1996, a range of significant improvements, including improvements in the means testing arrangements, have been introduced. As a consequence, there has been a substantial increase in the number of recipients of disability allowance – up from 34,500 in October 1996 to 57,160 at the end of November 2001, an increase of 66%.

The main improvements in the means testing arrangements which have been provided for and which also apply to the means tested blind person's pension scheme include substantial increases in the amount of earnings from rehabilitative employment which may be disregarded for means test purposes. With the further increase announced in last week's budget, the level of this disregard will have almost tripled – up from £35.20 – 44.70 – to £94.50 – 120.00. This disregard has also been extended to earnings from rehabilitative self-employment.

A major improvement in the method of assessing capital was introduced in October 2000, with the first £10,000 – 12,697 – being disregarded, an increase of £8,000 – 10,158 – and the method of assessing capital above this level improved. Since April this year the full rate disability allowance is paid where the person's partner is in receipt of any other social welfare payment. This improvement has resulted in weekly increases of between £35.00 – 44.44 – and £46.00 – 58.41 – for those affected. Up to £150,000 – 190,461 – from the proceeds of the sale of a person's residence is exempted for disability allowance and blind person's pension purposes, with effect from April of this year. In addition, the back to work scheme has been extended to recipients of disability allowance and blind person's pension. Under this scheme a per son is allowed to retain their weekly payment on a sliding scale in addition to their income from employment or self-employment.
While significant improvements have been made in the means tested payments for people with disabilities in recent years, it is nevertheless recognised that more needs to be done and I will continue to examine the potential for further improvements in this area, having regard to available resources and the Government's other priorities.
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