asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to extend the scope of the cheap fuel scheme for the coming year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Scheme.
12.
The extension of the scope of the cheap fuel scheme for the coming year is not contemplated. However, as I said in reply to a similar question in July last, 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.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the health boards can make a similar quantity of fuel available as is being made available in the areas which come under the free fuel scheme at the present time?
There is no restriction, as far as I am aware, on the quantity of fuel that may be provided. It depends on the needs of the people they are assisting.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary urge the health boards to concern themselves about that aspect of the matter?
Yes, I hope health boards and local authorities will concern themselves with it.
The Parliamentary Secretary indicated to us some time ago that he did not particularly like this scheme on the basis of his own membership of a local authority and that he had in contemplation the introduction of some alternative scheme to the free fuel scheme. Perhaps he could indicate to us what his latest thinking on this matter is?
As the Deputy is aware, the provision and the administration of the free fuel scheme lies within the competence of the local authorities. There are very few restrictions imposed by the Department on how it operates. In fact, in some local authority areas it operates very successfully. For instance, Dún Laoghaire would be a fine example of the free fuel scheme operating to the recipients' satisfaction. I believe there can be considerable improvement in the operation of the free fuel scheme if the local authorities responsible for its administration desire to improve the scheme in their areas.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary, who is responsible for social welfare, be prepared to lay down guidelines for a model scheme for local authorities to follow? As the Parliamentary Secretary knows, one of the problems is that old people who cannot collect the fuel have to pay for its delivery and that is a persistent annoyance.
I appreciate that. Actually I had that in mind when I mentioned Dún Laoghaire where the authorities there have been delivering the fuel to recipients for quite a considerable time past. There is no reason why other local authorities cannot do the same thing if they wish to do so.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary take the initiative?
As I mentioned in the House some time ago, in reply to a similar question, I sent out a circular to local authorities and hoped they would act on it.