asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce proposals to amend the legislation governing free fuel for pensioners to include the Shankill areas of Dublin.
29.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cheap Fuel Scheme.
28.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will take action to remove the anomaly in the cheap fuel scheme whereby eligible people living in rural areas or living in towns, but outside the town boundary, are denied this fuel.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Question Nos. 28 and 29 together.
As I indicated in reply to earlier questions, I have established a working group to examine, inter alia, the working of the cheap fuel scheme. The position of the pensioners mentioned in the questions along with all other groups involved will be included in this examination.
Has the Minister asked the working group to let him have their report by any specific date and, if not, would he consider imposing a time limit on their investigations?
I did not specify any time limit but I would expect them to report to me as quickly as possible. Certainly, I would consider it desirable that they make their report before the introduction next year of the cheap fuel scheme.
Would the Minister agree that the older the people concerned, the greater is the urgency?
Yes, but the Deputy knows that there are some different elements involved here. One of these is the cheap fuel scheme itself while another concerns the free electricity scheme that is operated by my Department, and a third element is the supplementary welfare allowances scheme under which payments can now be made in respect of light and heating. These three elements must be studied in relation to the situation.
If the Minister receives the report of the investigating group in time will he be in a position to make the appropriate decision before the coming into operation of the free fuel scheme?
In other words, can the report be expected within a few months?
I hope so. As I said to Deputy Horgan, it would be desirable to take the decisions before the time comes for the introduction of next year's free fuel scheme.
That is another report to add to the list of those that we should have within a few months.
30.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that boundaries between urban and rural districts are causing problems in the delivery of free fuel to eligible persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The operation of the Cheap Fuel Scheme, including arrangements for the delivery of the fuel, is a matter for the individual local authorities concerned and not for my Department.
As I indicated in reply to earlier questions I have established a working group to examine, inter alia, the working of the scheme.