Catherine Murphy
Question:405. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the household benefits package increased to €45 per month based on 2022 figures. [32669/23]
View answerTuesday, 4 July 2023
Questions (405)
Written answers
The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers.
People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Based on 497,196 households in receipt of the electricity/gas element of the HHB package at the end of December 2022, increasing the gas/electricity monthly rate of €35 to €45 would cost in the region of €59.7 million in a full year.
|
Number of Claims December 2022 |
Gas/electricity monthly |
Proposed gas/electricity monthly |
Full year cost of measure |
|
497,197 |
€35 |
€45 |
€59.7 million |
Any decision to enhance or increase the electricity and gas aspect of the package would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.