Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. I thank him for giving of his time to deal with this matter.

The household benefits package helps with the cost of electricity or gas and waives the television licence fee for persons aged 70 or over and has been of immense help to thousands of people across the country. It is a scheme which should be lauded and built upon.

In recognition of the role played by the Internet in our daily lives, the inclusion of a broadband allowance as part of the household benefits package is merited. In 2022, the Internet is essential. It is as essential as our road and water infrastructure. People need to be connected and the problems with social isolation during Covid shows that very clearly.People need to be connected. All the attention that has been paid during Covid shows that very clearly. Social isolation has been shown to significantly increase a person's risk of premature death and reduce quality of life.

The Internet connects people and the older people in our communities need that connection, perhaps more than anyone. I know of an older women whose consistent social occasion was weekly bridge played at the local parish centre, which went online during Covid. Her family bought her an iPad to take part and she had to learn how to use that. She only had WiFi installed recently and that was another monthly cost, but it was worth it 1,000 times over to still be able to see her friends, play together and maintain that social identity and connection and to video call family members many countries away and across the seas, to remain even closer while apart.

That is what the Internet offers to older people and if we value mental health and equality in this country, we will help those people who may otherwise struggle or be unable, to stay connected. However, it is not just anecdotal evidence that shows this. A 2020 study, carried out by researchers in University College Dublin and published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found links between more frequent Internet use and increases in well-being in older adults, from higher rates of life satisfaction, to lower rates of depression.

Another report by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing found that some 30% of adults over 50 who live alone did not have any access to the Internet. Professor Desmond O'Neill, a consultant geriatrician, said, "It does suggest that there is a market for older people to get access, perhaps a subsidy". The amount given monthly by such a broadband allowance would have to be based on statistics collected by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, but could be paid directly to the Internet provider as a credit against the bill each month, as is the case currently with Electric Ireland for electricity, or Bord Gáis or Flogas for gas.

Most Internet service providers charge approximately €35 for the first 12 months of a contract, with prices then rising to roughly €55 after that. It may not seem like much to some, but to others, it is an insurmountable financial obstacle. At a time we are acknowledging the rising cost of living and the exceptional rise in global energy prices, we should take this opportunity to ensure that our older community members are looked after and will not be left behind. Now is the time for an opportunity to make a difference in the age-based digital divide.

I know also that the telephone support allowance is there, but that is only €2.50 per week. One has to be over the age of 70, living alone and getting the fuel allowance in order to get that. It really does not cover the cost of broadband. I hope the Minister of State will look at that with regard to extending the household benefit package to include the cost of broadband.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Keogan for her very-well presented argument in favour of this allowance. The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance and free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €273 million this year on the household benefit package for more than 484,000 customers. All proposals, including any proposal to introduce a new broadband allowance as part of the household benefit package could only be considered while taking account overall Government policy and budgetary considerations.

Given the many competing demands for the limited funding available to the Department of Social Protection, recent budget spending increases have been targeted to ensure that it goes to those people who need help the most. Therefore, as well as increasing social welfare payments weekly rates, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has increased the rate of household-based schemes such as the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance which are targeted towards households that are at a higher risk of poverty, as evidenced by recent ESRI research.

As part of the overall welfare budget package of €600 million in increases, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, secured for 2022, she is pleased to see an increase the fuel allowance payment by €5 per week, effective from budget night. This brought the weekly rate of payment to €33. In addition, as part of the budget, the Minister increased the weekly income threshold for fuel allowance by €20. As fuel allowance is a means-tested payment, this ensures that it is targeted towards those most in need of the payment.

People who live alone are considered among those most at risk of social isolation and the living alone allowance is paid by the Department in part a recognition of the greater challenges facing those living alone in avoiding poverty.In budget 2022, the Government increased the living alone allowance by €3 per week to €22 a week. This increase means that, since 2019, the living alone allowance has more than doubled in value from €9 to €22.

The household benefits package is only one of the Department's schemes. The Department of Social Protection also pays the telephone support allowance, TSA, to over 137,000 customers weekly. The TSA is an allowance of €2.50 that supports recipients by assisting them with the cost of communications and-or security solutions for their home. The primary objective of the TSA is to support the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, to access the critical communications infrastructure. In order to receive the allowance, a customer of the Department must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and both the living alone allowance and fuel allowance. This means the scheme specifically targets those who need it most.

Furthermore, the Department of Social Protection operates both exceptional and urgent needs payments as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need that they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through the community welfare officers network.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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The Minister of State has not told me anything new. I knew about these payments and allowances that are allocated to the elderly. This is a very specific allowance for broadband, which can be a considerable cost to the elderly, particularly those who live on their own and have nobody. Those who live on their own are the most vulnerable. The allowance of €2.50, which amounts to around €113 a year, probably pays for two months of broadband costs. I ask that the Government look at providing a broadband allowance as part of public expenditure in the next budget. It could be added to the household benefits package. We are trying to encourage people to go online, particularly because of Covid. If something else happens, for example, another pandemic, people will feel more isolated. This proposal is an ideal way of connecting our elderly to those who may not be able to get in touch with them on a daily basis.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Keogan for her remarks and the case presented. I will revert to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, with the case the Senator has made in the context of the next Estimates process. I know the Government is adjudicating on an estimate for increased package to counteract inflation, which has to be targeted at those who need it most. The Minister has said the allowances that have been increased significantly are the ones that have been means tested to ensure those who need them most get them. I will relay the Senator's comments to the Minister.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I note the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, is staying with us for the next Commencement matter.