Social & Family Affairs

Mr. Boyle: When will the third arm of the Government's promised programme on disability legislation come before the House? Is the Government waiting for the Second Stage of the Disability Bill to finish or be withdrawn before we have a debate on the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill.

307. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether SWA circular no. 1 of 2005 issued on 31 January 2005, restricts in any way the discretion given to the Health Service Executive to award an SWA rent supplement in any case in which it appears to the executive that the circumstances of the case of so warrant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9390/05]

299. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason refugee and asylum seekers granted residency status are required to serve a further period of at least six months before they can avail of other benefits such as the back to education scheme, despite the length of time they have already spent in the country being prohibited from gaining employment. [9212/05]

274. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount his Department paid in 2004 for car mileage expenses; the amount paid to cover rail and bus ticket expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8592/05]

167.Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether Irish citizens without individual means, property or pension but who are now elderly having been home-makers in the 1950s and not in a position to accumulate stamps should be entitled to a State pension in accordance with the unequivocal intent of Article 42.2.1 of the Constitution; the plans he has to ensure that the hundreds of elderly Irish mothers who now find themselves without pension or individual means or property are to be given a fair pension. [7143/05]

133. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the actual number of women aged 70 and over who have no independent means, property or pension; if he will consider in view of this unacceptable situation, the introduction of a guaranteed basic income which would be an entitlement on the basis of being a citizen of the State, as recommended by the Conference of Religious of Ireland. [6380/05]

119. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the opinion of the charity Barnardos that 66,000 children here currently live in consistent poverty. [6076/05]

108. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to change the one parent family allowance. [6069/05]

100. Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consideration he has given to having the homemaker disregard made retrospective from 1973. [6073/05]