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Gnáthamharc

Social Welfare Code.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (190)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

247 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the costs of giving free travel and the household benefits package to all widows and widowers in the country, regardless of their age; and the plans he has to bring proposals to Government to give free travel and the household benefits package to all widows and widowers. [28187/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The household benefits package of schemes, which comprises the electricity, gas allowances, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who fulfil a means test.

The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments such as invalidity pension and disability allowance. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities.

Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefit package or free travel retain that entitlement to ensure that those households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of the spouse.

In the time available it has not been possible to cost the Deputy's proposal. This estimate will be communicated to him as quickly as possible.

A range of proposals, including that proposed by the Deputy, has been made to extend the free schemes to other groups. These are kept under review in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.

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