Mary Flaherty
Ceist:111 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the detailed arrangements made regarding the use of natural gas rather than electricity, as in the free electricity scheme.
Written Answers. - Free Electricity Scheme.
It is proposed to introduce a free natural gas allowance as an optional alternative to a free electricity allowance for qualifying pensioners whose homes are connected to a natural gas supply. A natural gas supply is now available in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clonmel and Waterford.
The qualifying conditions for both schemes will be identical. A person may qualify for one of these allowances but not both. Applications for free natural gas allowance will be received and processed in the same manner as applications for free electricity allowance from March 1990.
The free natural gas allowance will be applied to the natural gas bill of qualified pensioners from the start of the next two-monthly billing period following the date on which the claim is received.
Bord Gáis operate a variety of tariff structures. Accordingly, different arrangements will apply to each category with a view to providing equivalent benefits in money terms. The number of free therms will vary from 84 to 201 with the normal standing charges also covered where appropriate. Pensioners will be allowed carry forward a proportion of any unused units in certain circumstances.
Claim forms and explanatory leaflets will be available in post offices and Bord Gáis Éireann offices throughout Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Clonmel by the beginning of March 1990.