Paul Donnelly
Question:281. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if the household benefits package increased by €10 per month. [49292/23]
View answerTuesday, 14 November 2023
Questions (281)
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. Approximately 508,000 households are in receipt of the gas/electricity element of the HHB package.
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.
If the increases to the electricity/gas element outlined by the Deputy were introduced in 2024, the estimated additional yearly cost for those estimated to be in receipt of electricity/gas element of HHB (520,000) would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€10 |
€45 |
520,000 |
€62.4m |
All proposals, including the proposals outlined by the Deputy could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and 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 essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.