Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will take some of the general points first, starting with the point made by Deputy Catherine Murphy and other Deputies about why the household benefits package is not set out in legislation.

The Deputies should be very careful with regard to what they wish for. Depending on the perspective from which one considers the matter, one of the problems or positives relating to our social welfare system is that the number of people on the household benefit package has increased to an extraordinary degree during the past seven or eight years. The latter is responsible for the pressure which has been exerted on the funds relating to the package. Approximately 135,000 contributory pensioners and in the region of 53,000 non-contributory pensioners are in receipt of the household benefits package. In addition, widows, widowers and people on deserted wives benefit, blind pension, carer's allowance and disability allowance also receive it. There is also a further cohort of individuals who are identified by the Department as qualifying for the package.

This is an extremely complex scheme and the benefits relating to it encompass free electricity and gas allowances and the free TV licence. Up to now, free telephone rental was also contemplated under the scheme. The Deputies appear to be suggesting that every small change or add-on in respect of those who qualify for the scheme should be set out in law before the House.

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