Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on allowing people to transfer the free electricity to the free gas allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26187/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend or expand the availability of the free schemes operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26650/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 354 together.

The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity/gas allowance, telephone allowance and free television licence schemes, 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 carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. 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. This measure is in place to ensure that households who have this entitlement do not lose it on the death of a spouse.

People aged over 70 years of age can qualify for the household benefits package regardless of their income or household composition. Those aged under 70 must live alone or only with certain excepted people in order to qualify.

With effect from January 2007 the number of units of electricity covered by the scheme was increased from 1,800 to 2,400. An equivalent increase in the natural gas allowance came into effect in October 2006. These allowances also cover increased standing charges and the associated VAT. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The annual value of both allowances is the same and, recipients are free to transfer from one allowance over another to suit their individual needs.

Budget 2007 provided for the telephone allowance to be extended to cover mobile phones. Under this new arrangement, customers have the choice to opt either for a direct credit to a telephone company for their landline as before or for a cash payment in respect of their mobile phone. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to extend the scheme further to incorporate broadband services.

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.