Vol. 421 No. 1
6 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his attention has been drawn to the additional trauma suffered by widows when, following the death of their husbands the household income is considerably reduced and ancillary benefits such as free units of ESB, free TV, free telephone rental and free travel are withdrawn; and the plans, if any, he has to relieve the distress and poverty arising from such situations.
25 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has any proposals to improve the position of widows, particularly in the aftermath of the death of their husbands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 25 together.
I am, indeed, well aware of the trauma, loss and disruption of family circumstances suffered on the death of a spouse. Where the spouse is in receipt of a long term social welfare benefit or pension, payment continues for a period of six weeks after the death. A contributory widow's pension based on either the deceased person's insurance or the widow's insurance, regardless of their income, is payable. A means-tested non-contributory widow's pension is paid where the conditions for a contributory pension are not satisfied.
The free schemes operated by my Department, which comprise free travel, free electricity allowance, free gas — bottled and natural — free telephone rental and free television, are estimated to cost the Exchequer approximately some £77 million in this year.
Free travel is available to all persons, including widows, aged 66 years and over and to persons under that age who are blind or in receipt of certain social security type payments. Entitlement under the other free schemes administered by my Department is confined to the elderly or permanently incapacitated who are receiving certain social security type payments and who are either living alone or only with excepted persons. Widows who satisfy these conditions qualify for entitlement.
The extension of those schemes to additional categories of persons, such as widows not eligible at present for a variety of reasons, would have significant financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.
Many women, after the trauma of losing their husbands, find themselves in a much worse position financially than they had been prior to the death. For instance, take free travel, had their husbands been over 66 years of age and the wives under 66, under certain circumstances it is possible that both spouses could travel together with the wife as a companion, and after the death the wife finds she is not allowed free travel. There are many other aspects of this. Surely there must be a compassionate view that could be shown particularly for a period after the death to ensure that widows are given every chance to overcome their great human tragedy.
My sympathy lies in the direction which Deputy Connaughton has outlined, particularly in the area of widows, probably due to my upbringing, my mother being widowed at a very early age.
My case was the same.
I have sympathy given that matters are hard in particular areas. In that area of social welfare my sympathy lies with people who are widowed, as I said. I tell Deputy Connaughton I cannot consider those changes at the moment, as he well knows, in light of the budgetary situation, the Estimates, etc., for this year, but I will consider the matter. Over the last couple of years we have made many changes in different budgets regarding some of the free schemes, etc. I will consider further changes in the light of next year's budget and I will take some of Deputy Connaughton's points on board.
After a couple of months in the Department of Social Welfare I find all these free schemes and different regulations confusing. I would like to be able to rationalise those in the coming year, or at least look at them to see what we are going to do. I will take on board some of the ideas put forward in regard to widows. We will have to wait and see what we can do in the context of the 1993 budget.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Let me suggest to the Minister that if a husband survives all his allowances will be paid. Probably he will travel so he will be costing a great deal of money. He may even use more gas because he has to be kept warm, etc. and the State will be spending all this money. Now they are deciding to save money at the expense of widows who have their own trauma to overcome. It is something an enlightened Minister like the Minister present should consider and I think he has said he will consider it for the next year. He cannot do it now, but the State is saving money at the expense of widows.
As I said in reply to Deputy Connaughton, I will endeavour to take on board some of the points the Deputy made regarding this matter. The points have been made previously to my predecessors. In fairness, my predecessors improved the situation over the years. Perhaps further improvement can be brought about but the cost is pretty significant. I will take Deputy Browne's suggestions on board.
