Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if consideration will be given to the financial needs of younger widows and widowers who do not qualify for free schemes with a view to introducing a hardship clause to facilitate increased payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37223/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity/gas allowance, 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 satisfy 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. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement to ensure that households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse. A range of proposals has been made to extend the coverage of the household benefits package. These proposals are kept under review in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.

In general, widows and widowers under 66 years of age do not benefit from the household benefits scheme. Their rates of payment are similar to social welfare beneficiaries in a similar position and, accordingly, it would be difficult to justify specific payments in their case to compensate for the fact that they are not eligible benefits. That said, widows and widowers with dependent children can benefit from the widowed parent grant, introduced in 2000, to provide additional assistance following a bereavement. The grant is currently valued at €2,700 and is paid in addition to the usual after death payments.

Increases in the rates of child benefit are also of benefit to widows and widowers with children. Since 1997, the monthly rates of child benefit have increased significantly; by 271% at the lower rate and 258% at the higher rate, compared with inflation of 30.6%. The current rates of child benefit are €141.60 per month for each of the first and second children and €177.30 per month for the third and subsequent children. Increases in payment supports for widows and widowers have more than covered increases in living costs in recent years. I am continuing to look for opportunities to improve their position and, in this regard, the various provisions for widows and widowers under the social welfare code will be kept under review in the context of the forthcoming budget.