asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the free electricity and television licence scheme to include substantially and chronically disabled persons who, regardless of age, are wholly or mainly dependent on social benefit and assistance schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Electricity and TV Licences.
37.
The schemes of free electricity allowance and free 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. The reduction of the pensionable age to 69 years will apply to these schemes also, but no further extension of them is at present contemplated.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree, basically, with the request in this question? Would he accept that there is some merit in extending the free electricity scheme and the other schemes, to the people I have mentioned, the chronically disabled, who regardless of age, are wholly or mainly dependent on social benefit and assistance schemes?
I agree with the Deputy. One would hope that in the not too distant future something might be done about this matter.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say what the "not too distant future" means?
Quite frankly, I cannot answer that.
The Parliamentary Secretary is sympathetic anyway?
Yes. I am not in a position to give a definite undertaking, but I am certainly sympathetic.