Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

More documents

Recommendations

Info

435 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 436[Mr. Brennan.]accordingly. The person has appealed against thisdecision to the executive’s area appeals officer.The appeal will be decided as soon as possible.Social Welfare Benefits.235. Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister forSocial and Family Affairs if he will introducesome element of flexibility into the qualificationcriteria for the companion travel pass for personswho cannot travel alone and who are close to thequalifying age of 75; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5954/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): The free travel companion passscheme was introduced in 1990 for persons whoqualify for free travel and who, on account oftheir disability, are unable to travel alone. Someof those who are eligible for a companion freetravel pass include recipients of disability allowanceor invalidity pension who are medicallyassessed as being unfit to travel unaccompanied;people who are blind or severely visuallyimpaired; people who are confined to wheelchairs;people who are aged 75 years and overand who are medically certified as unfit to travelalone; and people who are receiving full-time careand attention from someone who is in receipt ofa carer’s allowance.The companion pass enables a person 16 yearsof age, or over, to accompany the pass holder freeof charge. The purpose of the companion passscheme is to ensure that a person’s entitlement tofree travel is not diminished because a companioncannot afford to accompany them. Any furtherextension to the free travel scheme could only beconsidered in a budgetary context.236. Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Socialand Family Affairs if eligibility for the respitecare grant will be determined; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5965/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): The conditions for receipt of theextended respite care grant are set out in theSocial Welfare Bill, which this week passedSecond Stage and was referred to the Select Committeeon Social and Family Affairs. The followingconditions will apply: the carer must be providingfull-time care to a person who is in need ofsuch care, as is the case with recipients of carer’sallowance, a full-time carer must not be engagedin employment for more than ten hours per week;those who are on unemployment payments willbe excluded since they are required to be availablefor and actively seeking full-time work. Fulldetails of the conditions for receipt of theextended respite care grant will be set out inregulations and will be widely publicised inadvance of the payment date.237. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister forSocial and Family Affairs if the maximum rentallowance will be approved in the case of persons(details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and ifassistance will also be given on the up-front paymentrequired. [5984/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): Rent supplements are provided forthrough the supplementary welfare allowancescheme. The scheme is administered by the communitywelfare division of the Health ServiceExecutive. The southern region of the HealthService Executive has advised that, apart from aninformal enquiry from the people concerned, ithas no record of an application by them for rentsupplement. If they wish to apply they shouldcontact the community welfare officer at theirlocal health centre for an assessment of their circumstancesand eligibility.238. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister forSocial and Family Affairs if rent allowance willbe approved in the case of a person (detailssupplied) in County Kilkenny; if a decision in thecase will be expedited. [5993/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): Rent supplements are provided forthrough the supplementary welfare allowancescheme. The scheme is administered by the communitywelfare division of the Health ServiceExecutive.The southern region of the Health ServiceExecutive has advised that it is awaiting thereturn of the appropriate application forms fromthe person concerned. As soon as she findsaccommodation to rent and supplies the necessaryinformation the executive will assess hereligibility for rent supplement.239. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social andFamily Affairs when the fuel allowance will beapproved for a person (details supplied) inCounty Mayo. [6061/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): The person concerned commencedemployment under the rural social scheme, on 12February 2005. That scheme is administered bythe Department of Community, Rural and GaeltachtAffairs. It is a matter for that Departmentto decide on eligibility, as well as whether participantsare entitled to any secondary benefits.Under social welfare legislation, decisions onclaims must be made by deciding officers andappeals officers who are statutorily appointed. Ihave no role in making such decisions.240. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social andFamily Affairs if an application for a person(details supplied) in County Mayo for the carer’sallowance will be reassessed. [6063/05]
437 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 438Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): Under the regulations governing carersallowance, a person may participate inemployment for a maximum of ten hours perweek. Following the necessary investigations todetermine his entitlement to the allowance, hisapplication was refused on the grounds that hewas employed in excess of the ten hours allowedeach week.My Department received a notice of an appealin this case on 15 February 2005. The person submitteda letter from his employer stating that henow works six to eight hours per week. Based onthis information a revised decision will be made.In this regard, he was requested to submit confirmationof the date from which he reduced thehours of his employment and details of his earnings.On receipt of the requested information, hisclaim will be reviewed.Under social welfare legislation decisions onclaims must be made by deciding officers andappeals officers who are statutorily appointed. Ihave no role in making such decisions.Social Welfare Appeals.241. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social andFamily Affairs when a person (details supplied)in County Mayo will have their appeal dealt within regard to unemployment benefit. [6066/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): The person concerned applied forunemployment benefit on 10 January 2005. Hisclaim was disallowed by the deciding officer onthe grounds that he was not available for full-timework and not genuinely seeking employment.The person appealed against this decision tothe social welfare appeals office — appealreceived on 7 February 2005 — and an appealsofficer is of the opinion that an oral hearing isrequired. He will be advised of the date andvenue for the hearing when the necessaryarrangements have been made.Under social welfare legislation decisions onclaims must be made by deciding officers andappeals officers who are statutorily appointed. Ihave no role in making such decisions.Road Safety.242. Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transportthe legal position in respect of the widespreaduse of quad-bikes by young people; ifthese bikes come within road traffic legislation; ifit is legal for minors or adults to ride these bikeson public roads or public open spaces; the personwho is liable in respect of injury to persons or toproperty caused by one of these bikes; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5920/05]252. Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Transportthe legislation or regulations which governthe use of micro-motorcycles either on the publicroadway or in public places such as parks; thepenalties for breaches of any such laws or regulations,given that these vehicles are now in widespreaduse; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [5761/05]Minister of State at the Department of Transport(Mr. Callely): I propose to take QuestionsNos. 242 and 252 together.The Road Traffic Act 1961 defines a mechanicallypropelled vehicle as a vehicle intended oradapted for propulsion by mechanical means.Quadricycles and motorcycles, including micromotorcycles,come within this definition.In order to use a mechanically propelledvehicle in a public place, a range of requirementsmust be satisfied in relation to both the vehicleand the driver. Specifically, a mechanically propelledvehicle when in use in a public place mustcomply with the requirements of the Road Traffic(Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles)Regulations 1963 to 2002 and the Road Traffic(Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 1996and the driver must have third party insurancecover in accordance with section 56 of the RoadTraffic Act 1961. In addition, under section 38 ofthe Road Traffic Act 1961, a driving licence isrequired to drive a mechanically propelledvehicle in a public place. The minimum age forholding a driving licence is 16 years for a mopedand small motorcycles and 17 years for aquadricycle.Enforcement of the road traffic law is a matterfor the Garda Síochána. The penalties forbreaches of the road traffic law in respect of theserequirements are a fine not exceeding \800 in thecase of a first offence, a fine not exceeding \1,500in the case of a second or subsequent offence, anda fine of \1,500 or to a term of imprisonment notexceeding three months or both in the case of athird or subsequent offence in a period of 12 consecutivemonths. A person convicted of a breachof section 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 incursfive penalty points.In addition to the requirements of road trafficlaw, a mechanically propelled vehicle for use in apublic place is required to be registered and liableto motor tax, which are matters for the RevenueCommissioners and the Minister for the Environment,Heritage and Local Government,respectively.Driving Tests.243. Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transportwhen a driving test will be available for aperson (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; andif he will make a statement on the matter.[5601/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): The applicantis on my Department’s waiting list for a drivingtest. No documentary evidence has been submittedto my Department indicating that an earlydriving test is required.
Page 1 and 2: 337 Questions— 22 February 2005.
Page 49: 433 Questions— 22 February 2005.

Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?