Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

433 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason persons on social employment schemes do not qualify for the national fuel allowance; and if he will agree to amend the terms of the scheme so that social employment scheme participants can qualify for the fuel allowance.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The national fuel scheme is intended to help households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.

The social employment scheme, which is administered by the Department of Labour, enables long term unemployed people to work on a specific project for an average of two-and-a-half days a week for which they receive a weekly allowance of £72 (personal) or £103.50 (married)

These allowances are higher than the single and married rates of long term unemployment assistance. Participants in the scheme are free to take up other work for the remainder of the week.

The question of extending the national fuel scheme to other categories, such as the social employment scheme, would have cost implications which would have to be considered in the light of available resources.

Madeleine Taylor-Quinn

Question:

434 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will issue a free fuel allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The national fuel scheme is intended to help households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.

I understand that the person in question had been living with her parents, who are in receipt of a fuel allowance in addition to social welfare pensions, prior to moving into a new home with her sister who is in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance. She applied for and was awarded a fuel allowance on 17 February 1992 and is currently in receipt of the allowance in addition to her unemployment assistance payment. I am now informed that she had been living at her new address for some weeks prior to applying for a fuel allowance but that she did not give the exact date of occupancy of her new home to the Department's local office in Kilrush when applying for a fuel allowance. If the person concerned provides written confirmation of the exact date of her change of address to her local office, payment of the fuel allowance will be made from that date.

Donal Carey

Question:

435 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the unemployment assistance application of a person (details supplied) in County Clare as he has supplied all information to the social welfare officer.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The person concerned made a claim for unemployment assistance at the local office in Ennistymon on 23 October 1991. The papers were sent to the Department's office in Ennis for investigation by a social welfare officer but were lost in transit and hence the delay. The person concerned is being contacted today in an effort to finalise his case.