Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the household benefits package in 2016; the projected expenditure in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21584/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. 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 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 benefits package retain that entitlement.

The expenditure on the household benefits package for 2016 was €218 million and my Department expects to spend approximately €232 million this year for over 426,000 customers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.