Vol. 325 No. 8
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the practice of recipients of the national fuel scheme subsidising the scheme by the weekly deduction of £1 from their supplementary welfare allowance; and, if so, if he approves of this practice.
193.
asked the Minister of Social Welfare if he is aware that persons in receipt of supplementary welfare allowances have suffered reductions in these allowances due to being granted the free fuel allowance, which resulted in little or no financial improvement in their circumstances; if he will instruct health boards to desist from such a deplorable practice; and if he will make a statement outlining the type of means test which should apply to applicants for free fuel.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos 180 and 193 together.
I presume the Deputies are referring to people in the South Tipperary area who had been receiving weekly cash supplements from the South-Eastern Health Board before the introduction of the national fuel scheme. These payments were in respect of special heating needs and since the new scheme commenced have been replaced by £2 a week fuel vouchers. There is no question of a reduction in general supplementary welfare allowances.
With regard to the criteria for eligibility under the national fuel scheme, I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 365 on 10 December 1980.
