Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
409. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review the household benefits package scheme and to reinstate the telephone allowance for persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12502/16]
View answerThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living 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. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on the household benefits package for over 418,000 customers. All aspects of the HHB package are continually reviewed and improvements made to the scheme where necessary.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew, arising from the increased number of pension recipients. The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that the Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. Any decision to restore the telephone allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
