asked the Minister for Social Welfare the measures being taken to ensure the health and comfort of the elderly in the face of the continuing cold spell.
10.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Care of Aged.
9.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the unprecedented cold weather conditions the additional measures, if any, that are under consideration to assist the elderly.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The free electricity scheme and the cheap fuel scheme operated under the aegis of my Department have contributed significantly to the welfare of the elderly during the present spell of cold weather. In addition, the health boards give special assistance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme where there are exceptional heating needs.
In the case of the Eastern Health Board, the board's field staff—public health nurses, welfare officers and so on—have been asked to be especially active in aiding old people in the community who might suffer from the effects of cold. Specifically, they have been authorised to issue extra blankets and fuel, turf or coal, where the existing services are inadequate and, if necessary, to issue electric fires. The board's staff are keeping the situation in their areas under urgent review and the situation will be considered further at a meeting tomorrow. Other health boards are taking appropriate action in their own areas.
With due respect to the Minister, that is a load of codswallop. Nothing has happened to these people. They are left with bundles of fuel vouchers. Is the Minister aware that these people were not able to use the fuel vouchers because fuel was not available? The health boards did nothing to help them, although they were inundated with requests for assistance.
That is not so. I am a member of the Eastern Health Board.
Order.
I do not care whether Deputy Murphy is a member of the Eastern Health Board. I am talking about officialdom. Is the Minister aware that there are many thousands of people in Dublin unable to avail——
The Deputy is engaging in argument.
I am asking the Minister if he is aware that many thousands of old people living alone in Dublin were unable to utilise fuel vouchers and if he is aware that the health board did not come to their assistance.
I am not so aware. I am in touch daily with the health board and Dublin Corporation in this matter and I am assured by Dublin Corporation that their fuel scheme is operating reasonably satisfactorily. There are some difficulties here and there but the amount of turf they are giving out is well up to normal standards. They are very active in making sure that fuel is distributed as effectively as possible. In addition, as I described in my reply, the health board are equally active. All members of the health board outdoor staff are on the alert and are active in making sure that the effects of the present unprecedented cold spell are minimised as much as possible. The Deputy has previously made these wild accusations in this House and he is not helping the situation or being fair to the dedicated members of the corporation and health board staffs.
If I bring these cases to the Minister's attention and if I am found to be telling lies, I will publicly apologise in this House. Will the Minister investigate the cases I bring to his attention and make an announcement about them?
We are moving on to Question No. 11.
Is it proposed to review the working of the free fuel scheme in Dublin city?
It is under active consideration at present.
Is the Minister aware that there appears to be evidence to suggest that many thousands of people in the Dublin region who should benefit under the free fuel scheme have not received supplies for, in some cases, up to five weeks?
I assure the Deputy that is not so. There may be the odd one or two, but the corporation assure me that they are as active and as effective in this matter as they possibly can be. Their deliveries are well up to normal standards.
There seems to be a discrepancy in the evidence on this matter because people have reported in good faith to Deputies about supplies not being received.
The Deputy should urgently bring these cases to my attention or to the attention of Dublin Corporation.
Will the Minister investigate these cases and reply in this House?
If the Deputy brings me these cases, I will deal with them.
Is the Minister aware of the lack of fuel outside the Dublin area, particularly the lack of turf? There is now the added complication that gas has become difficult to obtain as well. Dublin is not the only place suffering at present from this difficulty.
I accept that, but the Deputy will appreciate the density of old people living alone in Dublin is much higher. I would have though Donegal was one of the counties in which a fairly effective system was operating and where there was a very good community effort.
There are difficulties at the moment.
Has the Minister's attention been drawn to a statement issued yesterday by an association of voluntary social workers in Dublin which stated that the fuel scheme had broken down completely?
That is a separate question.
It has not broken down.
Question No. 11.
This is a very important question for many people who are unable to heat themselves.