asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free fuel scheme over the whole year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Fuel Scheme.
17.
No extension of the existing fuel scheme is contemplated.
I might point out, however, that public assistance authorities may at present help necessitous persons with their heating requirements either by way of cash payments to enable them to purchase fuel or by the provision of fuel. The Social Welfare (Supplementary Allowances) Bill, 1975, which is at present before Dáil Éireann provides for a scheme of supplementary welfare allowances to replace home assistance and contains provisions whereby the health boards, who will administer the new scheme, may provide assistance in kind to necessitous persons.
In reply to a supplementary question some time ago the Parliamentary Secretary indicated that he had in mind substituting some better and more comprehensive scheme for the free fuel scheme. Will he tell us his thinking on this matter?
Offhand I cannot recall the supplementary question referred to by the Deputy. I would imagine it was in the context of the new legislation which is before the House to replace home assistance.
Is it the Parliamentary Secretary's thinking at present that under the provision in the current legislation which would enable the appropriate authorities to pay benefits in kind that some new arrangements would be made to supplement the free fuel scheme? Is that the current thinking?
I said previously that much flexibility lay with local authorities in the administration of the free fuel scheme and that I was not satisfied that all of them were making the best use of the authority they had in the administration of the free fuel scheme. I urged local authorities by way of circular to be more flexible and humane in their approach in the administration of this scheme. I think that circular had some effect. I am confident that it lies within the competence of the various health boards, under the provisions of this Bill, to provide a satisfactory scheme.
Pending the new legislation, would the Parliamentary Secretary consider extending the scheme for at least another eight or ten months?
That can be provided for at any time of the year in the case of necessitous persons.
I do not think that is correct in the case of necessitous cases. I am talking of old people who use far more solid fuel than electricity. The majority of old people do not have electrical appliances. It is important that this scheme be extended to facilitate the older generation.
In view of the interest that has been shown in this scheme recently, I am sure that most Deputies who are members of health boards or local authorities will ensure that these organisations will utilise to the full their powers in providing proper schemes.
The Parliamentary Secretary should not try to fool the people. It is another name for home assistance.
We must proceed to the next question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider giving a direction to the health boards on the matter?
There is no need to give a direction. As far as I am aware the Deputy is a member of a local authority. Has he sponsored any motion at local authority level in connection with this matter?
I have called Question No. 18.