I propose to take Questions Nos. 975, 1020 and 1028 together.
The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity/gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test.
The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement to ensure that households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify for the household benefits package regardless of their income or household composition.
Earlier this month the Government announced improvements in the household benefits package to protect recipients from the increased costs of gas and electricity. As a result of these improvements, the present entitlement of 1,800 free units of electricity per annum will be increased to 2,400 free units per annum from 1 January 2007. There will also be pro rata increases for customers who avail of the gas allowance and these will come into effect on 1 October 2006. The allowances will continue to include payment of the standing charges. I am confident that these increases will be of major benefit to these recipients.