Vol. 236 No. 8
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce amending regulations enabling people, particularly in border counties, in receipt of Northern Ireland or British pensions who have reached the age of seventy to qualify for free electricity.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will re-examine the regulations governing free electricity for recipients of certain social welfare benefits; and if he will introduce amending legislation to cover British pension holders now living in the Republic of Ireland.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give British old age pensioners who are resident in this country parity with Irish old age pensioners in the supply of free electricity.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 80 and 81 together.
The answer is in the negative.
Would the Minister not reconsider this matter because quite a number of people are affected many of whom, if they were not in receipt of a British contributory pension would, in fact, qualify for a non-contributory pension in this country? It has now become a question of whether it would pay them better to refuse to accept the British pension and apply for a non-contributory pension here. In order to prevent that happening, the Minister should further consider it.
Will the Minister state why he has rejected the suggestion?
The free electricity scheme is administered on a selective basis. It was introduced originally for lonely pensioners who had no support other than the pension. Later it was extended to those who had one member of the family taking care of them if they were invalids. It is different from the free travel scheme which applies to all pensioners and is not operated on a selective basis. Many British pensioners are already in receipt of a part non-contributory pension here and they are eligible. I would not be able to say what number might qualify of those who are living alone. I do not think it would amount to very many, but it would cover that category of persons who might be living alone and who would not be in poor circumstances but might be comparatively well-off.
The Minister is aware that these are Irish citizens.
We are inclined to think of those who return here from working in England. The Deputy must remember that there are quite a number living here who do not come under that category. In fact, some 2,200 of these people who have returned here and who have a British pension are getting part Irish non-contributory pension too and, if otherwise qualified, are eligible for the free electricity. This scheme could take in quite a number of people. I will have the matter examined further and will be able to give further information.
That is all we are asking.
I want to warn the Deputy that it could include a category of persons who would not be very much in need.
There are very few millionaires in this country drawing the British old age pension.
There is a question of residents and non-residents.
