asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the cause of the reduction in the value of the fuel vouchers to blind and old age pensioners and recipients of unemployment benefit or assistance and whether he is aware that the vouchers have been reduced in value from 1/6 to 1/-.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cheap Fuel Scheme.
Mr. Byrne
There has been no reduction in the value of cheap fuel scheme vouchers, which remain valid for the summer period for a half cwt. of fuel and during the winter period for one cwt. of fuel per week. The recipients mentioned by the Deputy paid 1/- under the scheme for a half cwt. of turf in Dublin last summer and they will pay 1/6 for one cwt. during the present winter season, rising costs of fuel having caused an increase in the payment as compared with previous winter periods.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that, as a result of these and other increases, of the 2/6 given to an old age pensioner, 1/9½ has already been taken away as these old people have to meet increased expenditure for foodstuffs and fuel? Will he give them another 2/- per week to meet the increase in the cost of foodstuffs and fuel which they have now to meet?
The old age pensioners are being robbed and the Minister knows it.
Why not leave the price at the same figure as last year?
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has reconsidered the instructions recently issued by his Department instructing local authorities to increase the charge for fuel under the cheap fuel scheme; and, if so, whether he proposes to cancel the increased charge.
The increased charges under the cheap fuel scheme for the present winter season follow the rising costs of the fuel supplied.
I have agreed to meet a number of Deputies from Dublin to discuss the question, and pending this meeting I cannot give a definite answer to the latter part of the Deputy's question.
Will the Minister bear in mind that an increased charge under the cheap fuel scheme of 50 per cent. is an unconscionable impost on people who are trying to live on rates of subsistence that do not provide them with the barest necessaries of life, having regard to the present high cost of living? Will he also bear in mind that it is an outrageous performance to increase the price of this fuel by 50 per cent. when, in fact, the cost of the fuel supplied, turf, has not increased by 50 per cent. over last year's figures.
I am afraid it has.
Will the Minister consult his colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, who furnished information recently showing the increase in the price of fuel as supplied by the Prices Tribunal? It is not a 50 per cent. increase over last year's figure.
Including all costs, I am afraid it has, in this particular scheme.
Anybody who knows anything about this matter knows that it is a Finance racket to get their hands into the pockets of the poor people. Will the Minister stand for the poor people on this occasion?
The Department of Finance has not been consulted yet in this matter?
You do not mean to say you imposed it yourself?
I did.
The same as the Central Bank, is it?