Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Jul 1992

Vol. 422 No. 4

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Pensioners.

Edward Nealon

Question:

227 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a special allowance available to allow farm retirement pensioners under previous schemes to qualify for the other benefits available to social welfare pensioners such as (1) a free electricity allowance (2) a free telephone rental allowance and (3) free television licence.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy):

Entitlement to free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free television licence is available to persons who are in receipt of social welfare type pensions or certain health board payments and who are either living alone or only with certain excepted persons. Farm retirement pensioners and other non-social welfare pensioners who are over pension age could also qualify for old age pension depending on their means and in these circumstances they would also qualify for free schemes if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

The extension of those schemes to farm retirement pensioners who do not qualify for old age pension including those under 66 years of age would have implications for other categories of pensioners who do not meet the criteria at present. Any such extension to additional categories would also have financial implications and could only be considered in the light of available resources.