Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
548. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost if the gas or electricity allowance increased to €42 per month for persons in receipt of the household benefits package; and the last time that these allowances were increased. [39260/22]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB. 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 some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
In 2013, the arrangements governing the electricity/gas allowance were changed from a unit-based allowance to a credit-based allowance. The new monthly allowance was set at €35 per month per customer and there has been no change to the monthly allowance rate since then.
If the increases outlined in the question were introduced in 2023, the estimated average number of recipients would be 495,000 and the additional yearly cost of the measures would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Yearly cost |
|
€7 |
€42 |
495,000 |
€41.6m |
Any decision to enhance or increase the electricity and gas aspect of the package would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
