asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has made or if he plans any changes to the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations, S.I. No. 49 of 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Fuel Scheme.
2.
The regulations referred to prescribed the conditions for the payment of fuel allowances by the health boards. Further regulations entitled the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1985 — S.I. No. 334 of 1985 — made on 3 October 1985 amended the earlier regulations to provide that persons who are not in the categories specifically provided for in those regulations but who received a fuel allowance under the arrangements which existed prior to those regulations, may, if their circumstances have not changed, continue to be entitled to an allowance.
The amending regulations provide also for an increase from £4 to £5 in the weekly value of the allowance with effect from the commencement of the heating season in October 1985. No further amendments are contemplated at present.
Why was it considered necessary to amend the earlier regulations which had been made only some time previously? Also, can the Minister indicate how many people will be affected by the new regulations and how many will qualify for the fuel allowance under the new regulation?
The short answer to the first part of the question is that the amendment was made to provide against any hardship because prior to the present heating season discussions were held with the Eastern Health Board concerning the implementation of the regulations. It emerged in the course of these discussions that while persons on short-term payments had not been provided for under the previous arrangement, many such persons had been granted fuel allowances by the health board who felt they had the flexibility to do this under the guidelines where they considered it was warranted. They considered that under the regulations they would have no such flexibility and that the persons concerned would have to be disallowed. That is why the further amendment was brought in.
Have any arrangements been made to inform the people who have already been refused the fuel allowance under the existing regulations but who may possibly qualify under the new regulations of this? If I was unaware that these new regulations existed, it is highly unlikely that most of the people who are entitled do not know about them.
I am sure the health boards and the community welfare officers are aware of the position and I cannot see any major administrative difficulty in this area because there would be a record of those who received the allowance last year. If their circumstances have not changed since then, they will be eligibly for the scheme this year.
May I pursue this point——
Let us make a little progress. We have spent almost 15 minutes on two questions.
I appreciate that, but I am trying to clarify a point. How are the people who were refused the fuel grant before 3 October to know that they now qualify? Will the Minister ask the community officers to write to these people or to notify people generally that they should apply for this fuel allowance?
I will arrange that that aspect of the matter be further investigated to ensure that people who are entitled to this free fuel are made aware of the situation.
I will be very brief.
At the rate we are going we will do about six questions. Then there will be a row because no progress has been made. Things are becoming impossible.
I will not have a row.
No, but some members of your party will come in and start objecting about the lack of progress.
In view of these changes, would the Minister advise the health boards to engage in a programme of advertising in local newspapers to make people aware of the changes?
We will look into this and if it is found to be necessary we will take the necesary steps.
Would the Minister tell me why it is so difficult for people in County Dublin to qualify for the fuel allowance compared with people in the city? This is a very old sore.
It is a different question.
I do not accept that but if that is the position, I hope you will afford me the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment of behalf of the people I represent.
I will consider it and communicate with the Deputy
Will you allow the Minister to answer my question?
That is a separate question. We have spent 15 minutes on two simple questions. The people who drew up this Order Paper thought we should——
My question relates to the question on the Order Paper. There is no point telling me I am delaying the House because I do not do that sort of thing.
You contribute to it.
I am entitled to ask a question. That is the purpose of Question Time.
Under Standing Order 37 the Chair has absolute discretion as to the relevancy and number of supplementary questions. I am exercising that discretion.
The Minister would have answered my question ——
I am sorry it had to be you because you are not one of the worst offenders, but there seems to an impression that everybody associated with the matter under discussion must ask a question. That is part of my difficulties. I am calling Question No. 3.
3.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will direct health boards to relax their guidelines in relation to the free fuel scheme on account of the inclement year and the shortage of fuel throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on this situation.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the very bad summer which made it impossible for the saving of turf, he will increase the grant for free fuel to ensure that the needs of old people will be properly catered for this winter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 3 and 17 together.
The conditions for payment of fuel allowances by health boards under the national fuel scheme are prescribed by regulations. Under these regulations a person in receipt of a long term social welfare or analogous payment may, subject to certain conditions, be eligible for fuel allowance provided that he is considered by the board to be unable to provide for his heating needs. Persons in rural areas in receipt of such payments who have been unable to save turf because of the bad summer could qualify under the scheme. Application should be made to the local community welfare officer.
I consider that the health boards have adequate powers under the regulations to cater for persons in the categories concerned who need assistance towards their heating needs. The value of the weekly fuel allowance was increased, as provided in the budget, from £4 to £5 a week with effect from the beginning of the present heating season in October 1985. There are no plans at present for any further increase in the value of the allowance.
There does not seem to be any indication that the Government have relaxed their directive on the free fuel scheme. Could the Minister give any information of how parents living in urban areas whose families are living in rural areas, especially parents living alone, are being refused free fuel because it is said, their families are responsible for their fuel supply?
That was thrashed out on an earlier question. These two questions ask for a relaxation of the means test in view of the inclement weather.
One deals with free fuel and the other with unemployment assistance.
It is the same thing.
They are totally different.
That point was thrashed out at some length on the first question, believe it or not.
Is the Minister aware that whatever guidelines are laid down, in the Eastern Health Board area there appears to be a reluctance to pay this grant rather than an anxiety to be helpful. Could the Minister tell the House why people who were successful applicants one year and whose means have not improved in the meantime find there are great delays in reaching a decision on their eligibility the following year?
As I informed the House, the regulations are laid down. When answering an earlier question, I elaborated on them and the manner in which they are being applied at the moment.
As this question is in the name of Deputy Treacy, if he wants to frame a relevant question he may do so.
On Question No. 3, can the Minister say if there has been any indication to relax these guidelines in view of the inclement weather this year? Can he tell me why people living miles from their families are being refused free fuel on the grounds that their families have the responsibility to provide this free fuel?
The regulations are quite clear. I have explained the way in which they are operated by the health boards. If the Deputy has any particular case in mind and provides details, we will ask the relevant health board to have a look at it.
Have the Minister and the Department taken cognisance of the fact that we have had probably the worst summer in years and as a consequence the turf crop was exceedingly bad? All the Minister needs to do is look at Bord na Móna's results this year. Many poor people as a result of the bad weather had to use their reserves of fuel——
That is argument.
It is an argument that is clearly answered by events which have taken place——
It is so obviously that.
In view of the most unusual circumstances of the bad weather and the poor turf crop, will the Department take cognisance of that and increase the fuel allowance and the degree of flexibility allowed in assessing eligibility for this allowance?
I said in my original reply that persons in rural areas in receipt of such payments who have been unable to save turf because of the bad weather can qualify under the scheme.
Question No. 4.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am moving on to the next question.
This is a very serious question.
I am moving on to the next question. Will the Minister please answer Question No. 4?
On a point of order, does the Ceann Comhairle think that is fair to the people who put down oral questions which are of relevance to several thousand people in this country?