Vol. 396 No. 2
34 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Welfare , in relation to his decision to allow persons over 80 to retain a free electricity or natural gas allowance or a free television licence even if somebody comes to live with them, if it is intended to extend this facility to persons who at present have somebody living with them and would otherwise qualify for the allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Among the improvements announced in my budget speech was a provision whereby pensioners over 80 years of age who were entitled to free electricity or gas allowance and free TV licence will be allowed to retain their entitlement when a person comes to live with them.
The basic objective of this improvement is to preserve existing entitlements in the case of persons who have enjoyed the benefit of these schemes while they lived alone and now due to age require someone to stay with them. The loss of the allowance in these circumstances may cause hardship and this development is intended to remedy this.
This improvement comes into effect from October this year, and recipients over 80 years who have lost these allowances will have them restored on application from a current date after October.
The question of applying this facility to cover circumstances such as those referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the light of the available resources.
