37 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the cost of abolishing the means test for carer's allowance. [23616/99]

The carer's allowance is a means tested payment for carers on low income who look after people in need of full-time care and attention.

38 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the savings in unemployment assistance and benefit for each of the years from 1997 to date as a result of the progress to full employment; if these savings were returned to the Exchequer or re-deployed for other necessary measures by his Department; and his projections for the levels of unemployment supports needed in 2000 and 2001. [23618/99]

The savings in unemployment assistance and benefit in each of the years 1997 to 1999 are contained in the tabular statement which I am making available to the Deputy.

39 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the back to work scheme whereby the £250 per week ceiling for receipt of secondary benefits militates against couples with families; and if he will review this income limit. [23643/99]

40 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures, if any, being undertaken by his Department to ensure that low income households are given increased access to housing benefit; the plans, if any, he has to address this issue in the forthcoming budget; when the Partnership 2000 working group will report in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23635/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme people in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment can qualify for weekly supplements to meet certain needs such as the cost of rent or mortgage interest payments. This is generally intended as a short-term measure which is designed to provide immediate assistance for those in need. It is not intended as a general housing benefit and I have no plans to extend the SWA scheme in that regard.

SWA is subject to a means test and is not ordinarily payable to people in full time employment. However, special arrangements were introduced some years ago to enable people making the

transition from welfare to work to retain rent or mortgage interest supplement, subject to certain conditions.

My Department is aware that these arrangements are no longer fully adequate for some households, particularly for families with dependant children, given the large increases in housing costs in recent years.

The conditions for retention of rent and mortgage interest supplements, including the income limits and the ceilings on the amounts payable, are currently being reviewed in consultation with the social partners under Partnership 2000. These discussions are aimed at developing cost-effective solutions to the employment trap to which the Deputy refers. Arising from these discussions, this matter will be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.

41 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to increase the upper threshold for mortgage and rent supplements in view of the increase in property prices and the difficulty which those dependent on social welfare face in meeting mortgage and rent payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23632/99]

The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards and my Department has no function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.

43 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if, in his review of free schemes, he will allow free travel on public transport to all elderly EU citizens visiting Ireland; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many United Kingdom citizens of Irish descent living in Britain who holiday in Ireland are currently not entitled to avail of the free travel scheme. [23596/99]

44 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the anomaly whereby couples living together may be individually entitled to free telephone rental allowance and a medical certificate satisfactory to his Department must be provided regarding one or other spouse for free telephone rental allowance approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22198/99]

53 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the situation of low income public service pensioners who are excluded from the free schemes, for example, free electricity. [23624/99]

54 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will remove the time restrictions on the free travel scheme particularly in relation to early hospital appointments; and if he will extend the scheme to widows and widowers. [23606/99]

70 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the consideration, if any, he has given to ways in which to improve the operation of the free travel scheme in rural areas and of extending it to travel to the United Kingdom and Europe. [23626/99]

71 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the benefits which accrue to recipients of the free travel scheme when they avail of State public transport; the State transport which participates in accommodation of the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21191/99]

152 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of recipients of free travel; his views on the potential which exists to extend the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 44, 53, 54, 70, 71 and 152 together.

The free travel scheme provides a range of services operated by the CIE group of companies as well as on services provided by over 70 private transport operators. At the end of October 1999, over 550,000 free travel passes had been issued.

A fundamental review of the free schemes is being carried out to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner.

This includes an examination of the qualifying conditions for the schemes, the target groups and the scope for alternative policy arrangements. All of the issues raised by the Deputies are being addressed as part of the review process. The conclusions of the review will be considered in the context of budget 2000.