asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider the possibility of extending the benefits of the free electricity television licence scheme to persons drawing pensions from abroad who have retired to Ireland and whose means are equivalent to those of Irish pensioners who already qualify under these schemes.
Written Answers. - Free Electricity and TV Facilities.
363.
Persons drawing pensions from abroad who have retired to Ireland may qualify for a free electricity allowance and a free television licence provided that they fall within the eligible categories for these benefits. The particular eligible categories into which the persons concerned would be likely to fall are those of United Kingdom retirement pensioners over old age pension age and non-contributory old age pensioners. Recipients of pensions from abroad can qualify for non-contributory old age pensions provided that their means including their pensions are below the statutory limit.
364.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrangements will be made to keep recipients of the free electricity allowance regularly informed as to how to avail to the full of the allowance provided.
Recipients of the free electricity allowance are regularly informed by the Electricity Supply Board of the number of units of electricity they have consumed in each two-month billing period and also of the actual number of units appropriate to the season of the billing period that is summer, 200 units or winter, 300 units. This is done by means of a standard type of letter which contains on the reverse side instructions on how to avail of the allowance to the best advantage.
365.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of free TV licences issued in the last year to the latest available date.
The total number of free television licences issued in the year ended 30th September, 1977 was 72,987.