Paul Bradford
Question:87 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of extending the free television licence scheme to cover the full cost of colour set licences; and if he has any plans to implement this measure.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The cost of extending the free television licence scheme to cover the full cost of colour set licences is estimated at £3 million per annum. Such an extension would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Richard Bruton
Question:88 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the various free schemes, such as the free electricity allowance scheme, and the free television licence scheme to persons with mixed insurance records which do not under present regulations allow them qualify for any contributory pension due to the averaging group.
Free electricity, free television licence and free telephone rental allowance are additional benefits which apply to persons receiving certain social security type payments. Persons who do not meet the contribution requirements for contributory pensions may qualify for non-contributory pensions, which also attract these benefits, if their means are under the statutory limits.
Extending additional benefits to persons who are not entitled to a qualifying payment would have wide ranging and costly implications and there are no proposals for such an extension in present circumstances.
Richard Bruton
Question:89 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he commissioned the National Pensions Board to examine the issue of contribution conditions for contributory pensions; when he expects to have their reports to hand; and whether he has made any financial provision in 1990 to extend the pro rata concessions to certain workers in semi-State companies who went out of insurance in the sixties due to Government regulations.
Under its terms of reference the National Pensions Board which was set up in 1986 is required to submit proposals to the Minister for Social Welfare on all aspects of a national pensions system. The overall pension arrangements for public servants including employees of State companies and the contribution and other eligibility conditions governing entitlement to contributory pensions will be among the issues to be dealt with by the board. The question of introducing pro rata pensions for persons with a mixture of full and limited insurance will be considered in that context. It is expected that the board's report will be presented later this year. Meanwhile, no provision has been included in the 1990 Estimates for the granting of pro rata pensions to persons with mixed insurance records.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:90 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free fuel allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a free fuel allowance with effect from 20 October 1989.
A free fuel allowance book containing payment from 19 January 1990 has been issued to her. A payable order covering arrears due from 20 October 1989 will issue within three weeks.
Seán Barrett
Question:91 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was involved in a car accident on 6 April 1989, who applied for disability benefit on 10 April 1989 and was not called for medical examination until 23 June 1989 when she was found fit for work, was not paid any benefit between the period 10 April 1989 and 23 June 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 April 1989. As she had been considered capable of work in September 1988 and January 1989 following two previous claims, a decision on authorising payment of benefit was suspended pending an examination by a medical referee. This examination took place on 23 June 1989 and the medical referee considered that she had been capable of work. On 26 June 1989 she was notified of the result of the examination and of her right to appeal the decision within 21 days. She did not appeal.