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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Question:

619 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty and stress posed to pensioners by the 33% increase in fees demanded by a company (details supplied) for their services; and if he proposes to extend the free schemes programme to cover this unwarranted increase. [27013/01]

The free schemes, as currently constituted, provide a basic package of necessary benefits in the area of travel, electricity and telephone that ensure a limited standard of comfort or well-being to a particular targeted group. It is not within the scope of my Department to provide for all socially desirable items of expenditure. A recent review of the free schemes recommended that no further goods and services be covered by the schemes, unless their social benefit is clearly over and above that which can be purchased by increased income.

The Deputy might be interested to note that many private companies extend concessions to pensioners in order to increase their business usage, as part of their social aims and as recognition of the value they have received from their customers over the years. In this regard, following previous requests for concessions on the cost of cable television, my officials wrote to the cable company concerned bringing the demands for such concessions to their attention.
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