Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 4

Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

29 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to enable retired civil servants to avail of his Department's free schemes; the estimated costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Free travel is available to all persons in the State aged 66 years, or over, and also to certain people with disabilities under that age. The other schemes of free electricity allowance, free colour television licence and free telephone rental allowance are available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of a welfare type payment and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy this condition. In addition, widows and widowers between the age of 60 and 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the free schemes retain that entitlement.

In 1996 the free schemes were extended to all low income pensioners, including retired public servants, who did not qualify because they were not in receipt of a social welfare pension. The weekly income limit that is applied for this purpose is the maximum personal rate of old age (contributory) pension currently £78 per week, plus any increases for dependants, plus £30.

Any further extension of the free schemes, to include public servants not qualified under current conditions, would have financial implications which could only be considered in the light of available resources.