Vol. 407 No. 7
70 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has considered the anomaly whereby persons in receipt of public service pensions, regardless of their means, are excluded from the free schemes available to social welfare pensioners; the estimated cost of extending these entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Eligibility for the free schemes such as electricity allowance, natural gas allowance, television licence and telephone rental is confined to persons living alone who are in receipt of social welfare type pensions. The annual cost of those free schemes is £42 million. It is not possible to give an estimate of the additional cost involved in extending those schemes to all public service pensioners except to say that it would be significant. Consequently, it could only be considered in a budgetary context.
Permanent and pensionable public servants are covered for income related pensions under the terms of their public service employment. They are not covered by virtue of their PRSI contributions for retirement or contributory old age pensions. The question of extending coverage for retirement and old age pensions to public servants has been under consideration and has been discussed with the trade unions. This issue has also been raised in the context of the examination of pensions generally, which is being carried out by the National Pensions Board. The board's final report is expected in the middle of this year.
71 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his Department have considered that claimants returning to work after a period of disability benefit should be allowed for a limited period to work a part week and claim a part week, particularly in view of the fact that this might reduce the overall claim on the Exchequer by people delaying their return to work.
The purpose of disability benefit is to provide an income to people who are unable to work due to illness or disability. It is not normally paid to people who are capable of working part time.
There are some circumstances in which a person can do some work and still claim disability benefit. For example, a person on disability benefit who wishes to take up work of a therapeutic or rehabilitative nature can apply to continue to receive benefit. Each such case is considered individually on its merits.
I do not have any plans to extend disability benefit to other situations where the claimant is working.
