Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
594. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there will be an increase in the electricity allowance under the household benefits package to recognise the increase in energy prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13963/18]
View answerThe household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance (€35 per month) and the free television licence scheme (€160 per annum). At present, it is paid to some 436,000 customers, with expenditure estimated at €237 million for 2018.
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.
My Department also pays fuel allowance scheme to over 365,000 customers at an estimate cost of €227 million in 2018.
On the occasion of the most recent budgets, the Government has chosen to concentrate resources on increasing the rate of the pension and other weekly payments. In Budget 2018 I increased the maximum rate of all weekly payments by €5. This is the third increase in the rate of state pensions in recent years and will increased the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €232, and that of the contributory pension to €243.30. There was also a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance in 2016 from €20 to €22.50 per week and in budget 2018 I increased the period fuel allowance is paid for to 27 weeks.
Taking this into consideration I have no plans to increase the electricity/gas allowance element of the household benefits package at this time. Any decision to increase the benefits under the household benefits package would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
