P. J. Sheehan
Question:13 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason night storage heating costs are not included under the free electricity scheme; and if he will consider amending the scheme to include same.
Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Free Electricity Allowance Scheme.
The purpose of the free electricity allowance scheme, which costs in excess of £23 million this year, is to ensure that participants, who are generally elderly or disabled persons of limited means and living alone, always have access to electrical power for basic cooking, lighting and heating purposes. The scheme covers the cost of normal standing charges and up to 1,500 free units of electricity each year. Under existing arrangements, it does not cover the cost of extra standing charges applicable to night storage heating and where such heating is used the free allowance covers the cost of day units only.
My Department have been engaged in discussions with the ESB for some time with a view to extending the free electricity allowance scheme to cover the operation of night storage heaters. Any decision on such an extension must await the outcome of those discussions.