Noel Ahern
Question:98 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the household budget scheme will be introduced for those in receipt of lone parent's payments. [21538/96]
Written Answers. - Household Budget Scheme.
The household budgeting scheme is a service operated in conjunction with An Post which enables deductions to be made from weekly social welfare payments for rent, gas, electricity etc. The facility which was introduced in 1993 has been only available to unemployed persons. Work on the extension of the facility to lone parents is almost complete and it will be introduced on a limited basis initially within the next two weeks. It will be more widely available early next year.