asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant free fuel vouchers to contributory old age pensioners; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Fuel Vouchers.
21.
Contributory old age pensioners, not being clearly identifiable as a necessitous group, are not included among the classes eligible to participate in the cheap fuel scheme and it is not intended to include them, but any person in poor circumstances may, at the discretion of the local assistance authority, be granted free fuel as a form of assistance in kind.
Would the Minister be kind enough to indicate when the free fuel scheme may be extended to the rest of the country? When will the scheme be nationwide rather than being confined as it is to some cities?
The free fuel scheme has been discussed many times in the House. It is a product of the last war when non-turf areas were given some assistance towards providing the necessary fuel to persons who otherwise might not have got it. Now the scheme continues and applies to a few cities only and people in really necessitous areas like Donegal do not get the free fuel.
Is it not time to extend the scheme to the country as a whole?
I would prefer to see it replaced by some other scheme of general application.