asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pensioner, living with her daughter only who gets her house connected to ESB, will be free from the fixed charge in the ESB's domestic consumer tariff irrespective of the size of the house.
57.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Electricity Scheme.
56.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an eligible pensioner, who is not a registered consumer with the ESB and who gets her home connected now, will qualify for a free electricity allowance and relief from any fixed charge in the ESB's domestic consumer tariff.
58.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the scheme of free electricity, which applies to registered consumers who receive from his Department old age or blind pensions or who being aged 70 or over receive a widow's contributory pension, has been or is being modified; and, if so, what the modifications are.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 57 and 58 together.
The scheme of free electricity provides an allowance of 100 units of electricity free and relief from the fixed charge in each two-monthly period for any eligible registered consumer of electricity who is receiving old age or blind pension, or, being aged 70 or over, widow's contributory pension from my Department. To qualify, the pensioner must reside alone or with the following classes of person only—a wife, an invalid husband or other invalid person who ordinarily resided with the pensioner, other old age or blind pensioners, a child or children under the age of 16 for whose maintenance the pensioner is ordinarily responsible.
In January last these classes were expanded so that, in future, an eligible pensioner who is an invalid or semi-invalid or is so infirm due to age as to require constant care and attention may qualify for the allowance where another person resides with him for the purpose of providing that care and attention, whether or not that person is a relative and paid for that purpose. In addition, a child over the age of 16 years, if school going full-time, or a person receiving retirement pension from Britain or Northern Ireland if aged 70 or over, residing with an eligible pensioner, will not disqualify him for the allowance.
Any pensioner may qualify for the allowance at any time upon satisfying these conditions.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise on the Adjournment Question No. 38 of 7th February last, addressed by me to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.