Robert Molloy
Question:63 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will alter the free television licence scheme for certain social welfare recipients to cover colour television sets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Free Television Licence.
Under my Department's free television licence scheme, a free black and white television licence is provided to about 180,000 pensioners and disabled people who are in receipt of a qualifying payment and who satisfy the living alone condition.
Last April I announced an improvement in the scheme which enables those already getting the black and white licence and who also qualify for a free fuel allowance to get a free colour licence. That improvement means that more than half the total number of recipients now qualify for the free colour licence instead of the black and white.
The question of further improvements in the scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context.