Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to a previous parliamentary question in relation to the case of a person (details supplied), if it is accepted that the person merely rents a room and that the other tenant renting a separate room in the same building is not in any way associated and that they are liable to be adjudged so in their request for the free television licence only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41697/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The free television licence forms part of the household benefits package, together with the electricity or gas allowance.  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 and are living alone or with an excepted person only.  There is of course a universal entitlement to the free licence if you aged 70 and over.

An excepted person for the purpose of qualifying for the household benefits package includes a qualified adult, or a dependent child(ren) aged between 18 and 22 years if in full time education, or a person who would qualify for the allowances in his/her own right, or a person providing full time care and attention.

The original application in this case was refused in December 2016 as the utility bill provided by the applicant referred to a different address and showed a different name as the registered consumer. Following further correspondence and representations on the applicant's behalf, and in an effort to assist and facilitate the applicant, a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) called to the applicant's address on 8th August 2018, to investigate and determine the household composition.  The SWI confirmed that the applicant resides at the address provided in shared accommodation with another person.  Following this investigation the applicant was asked to provide confirmation that the person residing with him is an excepted person for the purposes of qualifying for household benefits.

The applicant's entitlement to the household benefits package, including his entitlement to the free television licence, will be reviewed on receipt of the additional information sought.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.