Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
811. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people received the household benefit package in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; the cost of this scheme to the state in each of these years; whether consideration is being given to increasing the payment under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15335/24]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €285 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 521,000 customers.
People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits 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.
While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Departments schemes, any decision to enhance the Household Benefits Package would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.
In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments including increases to the weekly rate of State Pension payable, as well as once off payments of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase and €300 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Budget 2024 also provided for the Christmas Bonus payment and January Cost of Living Bonus payment.
The records of the Departments indicate that the number of households in receipt of the Household Benefits Package and the cost to the State over the previous 3 years is as follows:-
|
Year |
No. of Recipients |
Yearly Cost |
|
2021 |
476,241 |
€274 million |
|
2022 |
497,196 |
€281 million |
|
2023 |
521,753 |
€286 million |
The number of recipients is based on the end of December figure for each year requested. The 2023 spend on the Household Benefits package is a provisional figure.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
