Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

58 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in the case of an old age pensioner, or persons in receipt of the survivor's pension aged over 60 years, he will treat one adult immediate family member, not already an accepted person, living with the pensioner as an accepted person for the purpose of the pensioner's entitlement to the free schemes of electricity allowance, natural gas allowance, bottled gas refill allowance, television licence, telephone rental allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2012/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The free schemes mentioned by the Deputy are normally available only to people in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and either living alone or with certain excepted persons. In the case of free telephone rental allowance, for example, the excepted categories include dependent children under the age of 15 and people so permanently handicapped that they could not get help in an emergency. In last month's budget I announced that the age limit for dependent children is being increased from 15 to 18 years with effect from next July.

Since 1994, first time applicants for both the free electricity and telephone rental allowance, aged 75 years and over, may qualify if there is one person residing with them who is not normally an excepted person. I have no plans at present to extend the free schemes to all new applicants, regardless of age and where at least one person, other than an excepted person, is residing in the household.