asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the free electricity and television licence concessions to include persons permanently incapacitated and dependent on social welfare benefits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity and Television Concessions.
19.
The schemes of free electricity allowance and free radio/ television licences administered by my Department were designed primarily for old people, aged 70 or over, living alone or with certain specified persons, who are receiving social welfare type pensions. Further extension of the schemes is not contemplated.
Would the Minister agree that the persons mentioned in Deputy Donnellan's question suffer just as much effective incapacity as people over 70, and that it would be a desirable extension of the scheme?
One cannot keep on extending the scheme to everyone.
Would the Minister please consider extending it to permanently incapacitated people living alone?
I have examined every possibility of extensions in relation to these schemes and there are priorities when it comes to the expenditure of money. I would regard this as the first priority.