Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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589. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans for an awareness campaign for the household benefit package targeted towards persons aged over 70. [34263/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises of an electricity or gas allowance, and a free television licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household. The payment is made on a monthly basis.

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 some people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. For customers aged 70 or over, there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying payment or to satisfy a means test.

For persons aged between 66 and 70, the qualifying payments are: State Pension Contributory, State Pension Non-contributory, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Deserted Wife’s Benefit, One-Parent Family Payment, a Garda Widow(er)'s Pension (from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration), or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

For persons aged under 66 years, the qualifying payments are: Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Carer’s Allowance (if living with the person being cared for), Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months) or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

My Department ran a public information campaign in August and September 2024 to raise awareness of the Household Benefits Package. The campaign ran in both Irish and English on national and regional print titles, as well as national and local radio stations in order to target communities nationwide.

In addition, the campaign ran on digital audio and social media platforms which were specifically selected to ensure the campaign message reached the relevant audience. All the campaign ads directed people to gov.ie/householdpackage, where details are available on determining eligibility for the scheme and how to apply online at MyWelfare.

Information on the Household Benefits Package is also available through my Department's local office network and on its website, and is available through various organisations, such as Citizens Information Centres. Also, when a person is awarded a primary payment which qualifies for the Household Benefits Package, they are informed of a possible entitlement to the package in their primary payment award letter.

Plans to conduct a further awareness campaign for the Household Benefits Package targeted towards persons aged over 70 will be kept under review.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.