Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 June 2022
212. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail the full costs of a doubling of the electricity or gas allowance component of the household benefit package for a full year for those not in receipt of the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31245/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 492,000 customers. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
At the end of 2021, the Household Benefits package was paid to some 484,000 recipients and the Fuel allowance to some 375,000 recipients. The number of these households in receipt of both the Household Benefits package and the Fuel Allowance scheme was some 210,000. Based on 274,000 households receiving the increased rate of HHB at an additional yearly cost of €420 per household, the estimated costs of doubling the electricity or gas allowance component of the HHB package for a full year for those not in receipt of the fuel allowance would be in the region of €115 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
