asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been issued with an invalidity pension despite the fact that he suffered a very serious accident over two and a half years ago, and has been applying for an invalidity pension for the past 15 months.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
28.
Mr. Cowen
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned was examined on 18 December 1985 by a medical referee who did not consider him to be permanently incapable of work. A deciding officer decided that he was not therefore entitled to invalidity pension. However, arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
26.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the operation of the two fuel voucher schemes indicating the aspects of them which may be in need of revision.
31.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is satisfied that the free fuel schemes are operated in a fair and equitable manner; and if he intends to make any changes in the operation of these schemes for the future.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 26 and 31 together.
The urban fuel schemes have existed since 1942 in 17 cities and towns, mainly along the eastern and southern seaboards, and are administered by local authorities. Persons residing in those areas who are in receipt of non-contributory old age and blind pensions and widows' pensions (contributory and noncontributory) as well as unemployment assistance recipients with dependants have automatic entitlement to fuel vouchers under these schemes.
The national fuel scheme was introduced in 1980 and was designed to provide, on a uniform basis, for all persons throughout the State who are unable to supply their heating needs from their own resources. It is administered by the health boards and under the regulations governing the scheme a person in receipt of one of the long term social welfare or analogous payments specified in the regulations who is living alone or only with certain expected persons may be eligible for a fuel allowance provided that he is considered by the board to be unable to provide for his heating needs. The schemes will continue in their present form for the 1985-86 season but proposals are being considered in the meantime for rationalisation with a view to having one scheme only for the whole country with uniform conditions.