Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 1

Written Answers. - Supplementary Welfare Allowances.

Enda Kenny

Question:

420 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline in respect of each health board (1) the amount of money allocated for each of the past three years to support applicants unable to meet commitments to E.S.B in respect of electricity bills, (2) the number of recipients in receipt of this support, (3) the number of such recipients who also had a hire purchase account with the E.S.B and (4) the number of such recipients who were so assisted in the payment of arrears on such hire purchase accounts with the E.S.B; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Health Boards do not maintain statistical records in such a way as to provide the information requested by the Deputy. However, it is estimated that payments in respect of electricity bills made to the Electricity Supply Board under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme were in the region of £2.5 million in 1989, £2.6 million in 1990 and £3.8 million in 1991. It is estimated that some 1,500 payments were made on a weekly basis in 1989 and 1990 and approximately 2,300 per week in 1991. Health Boards do not normally help with hire-purchase payments. However, assistance may be considered where a person who becomes entitled to supplementary welfare allowance has a hire-purchase commitment for an essential item, previously incurred, but is now unable to meet repayments. Assistance would be given only if there was no immediate prospect of the person's income increasing. There is no information available on the number of such recipients.