Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
450. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of TV licences issued via her Department’s free schemes in each of the past six months, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33933/23]
View answerThe Free TV Licence is one element of the Household Benefits Package. The other elements are Free Electricity Allowance or Free Gas Allowance. Only one Household Benefit package is payable per household.
For those aged 70 or over, the package is not means tested and there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. For those aged between 66 and 70, a person may qualify for the package if they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, or satisfy a means test. Those aged under 66 may qualify if receiving certain disability related payments (or an equivalent payment from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement), or Carer's Allowance (if applicant is living with the person they are caring for). Details of the qualifying criteria for the Household Benefits Package are available on www.gov.ie
According to the records of my Department, the number of households awarded a Free TV Licence in each of the past six months, is shown in the table below.
|
2023 |
No. of households awarded Free TV Licence |
|
January |
4,554 |
|
February |
4,301 |
|
March |
4,927 |
|
April |
3,838 |
|
May |
3,475 |
|
June |
4,056 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
