Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €285 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 521,000 customers.

People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.

In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments including increases to the weekly rate of State Pension payable, as well as once off payments of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase and €300 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Budget 2024 also provided for the Christmas Bonus payment and January Cost of Living Bonus payment.

The Government is of course providing very significant funding through the National Broadband Plan towards the provision of broadband. The National Broadband Plan is the largest ever telecommunications project undertaken by the Irish State. It aims to radically transform the country’s broadband landscape through the delivery of quality, affordable high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland, where such services are not available commercially.

While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Departments schemes, any decision to enhance the Household Benefits Package by the provision of a €5 per week digital allowance to those older persons who cannot afford digital devices or internet subscriptions would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.

I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.