Vol. 407 No. 1
206 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the recent extension of the free fuel scheme to include natural gas, he will now agree that the scheme be further extended to include smokeless solid fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The free electricity and natural gas allowance schemes, which are primarily designed to assist elderly persons, living alone, with their heating, cooking and lighting needs, operate on the basis of metered usage for the benefit of persons connected to those services.
The national fuel scheme provides assistance to those who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A weekly payment of £5 is made for a 26 week period from mid-October to mid-April. A smokeless fuel allowance is available under this scheme. This allowance of an additional £3 per week on top of the weekly payment of £5 has been introduced to help low income households meet the extra costs of using smokeless or low smoke fuel in those areas of Dublin where bituminous coal has been banned.
