Vol. 451 No. 2
106 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the numbers of persons or couples in the country over 66 years of age; the number of these persons on social welfare; and the estimated expenditure of the free schemes as given to those on social welfare if extended to the balance of the population on the same terms and conditions. [6406/95]
The number of persons or couples of 66 years of age and over in separate households is estimated at 300,000, of which about 240,000 are in receipt of social welfare pensions. The cost of extending the free schemes— free electricity allowance, free natural gas allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free television licence— available to certain social welfare pensioners to all persons over 66 on the same terms and conditions as currently apply is estimated to be of the order of £16 million per annum. This estimate does not include free travel which is available to all residents of the State aged 66 or over.
