John O'Leary
Ceist:113 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance and a free fuel allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The application for a free electricity allowance for the person concerned has been approved. The ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to her account from the October-November 1989 billing period onwards, which is the appropriate commencement date under the scheme in her case. The person concerned is also entitled to a free black and white television licence which she may obtain at her local post office.
In order to qualify for the free fuel allowance, a person must satisfy certain conditions, one of which requires that the applicant is unable to provide for his/her own heating needs. This requirement would disallow a person from receiving the allowance where his/her heating needs are provided for under the provisions of a deed of transfer.
In accordance with the provisions of a deed of transfer agreed to by the late husband of the applicant and his son, the latter undertook an obligation to support and maintain his parents during the lifetimes. Consequently, the person concerned does not qualify for the allowance.