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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 5

Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

225 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether all people over the age of 75 will receive free electricity as seemed to be indicated in the 1997 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7630/97]

The effect of the improvement in the free electricity allowance scheme which I announced in this year's budget is to ensure that all applicants aged over 75 are treated in precisely the same way in so far as eligibility for the allowance is concerned. It does not, however, extend eligibility for the allowance to all people aged over 75.

In order to qualify for the allowance, applicants must normally be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment or, in the case of persons aged over 66 who are not in receipt of such a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test; be a registered consumer of electricity on the normal ESB supply; and be living alone or only with certain excepted persons.

Certain concessions have been introduced in recent years for people aged over 75 in regard to the household composition rule. People over that age who are already in receipt of the allowance may retain it regardless of who resides with them. People over age 75, who previously held the allowance, can requalify for it regardless of who is residing with them. These concessions did not cover the position of new applicants aged 75 or over, who were obliged to satisfy the standard and more rigorous household composition rule in order to qualify for the allowance.

The measure I announced in the budget is designed to rectify that situation. From next June, new applicants for the allowance who are aged over 75, and who otherwise satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme, will now also be enabled to qualify for the free electricity allowance regardless of their household composition. Also a similar concession is being introduced to the free telephone rental allowance scheme.
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