101 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider including persons in receipt of an occupation pension from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as being qualified to receive free electricity, telephone and TV allowances and other fringe benefits. [19254/95]

105 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant civil and public servants, over 66 years of age, the same entitlement to social welfare free schemes of electricity allowance, natural gas allowance, bottled gas refill allowance, television licence and telephone rental allowance that is available to social welfare pensioners. [17511/95]

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 101 and 105 together.

Free travel is available to all persons in the State aged 66 years or over and also to certain disabled people under that age. The other schemes of free electricity allowance, free colour television licence and free telephone rental allowance are available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy the living alone condition. In addition, widows between the age of 60 and 65 whose late husbands had entitlement to the free schemes retain that entitlement notwithstanding their age.

Retired civil or public servants may, depending on the level of their pensions, be entitled to receive an old age (non-contributory) pension from my Department even at a reduced rate. If they are so entitled and can satisfy the living alone condition, they will also qualify for the free schemes.