Vol. 425 No. 7
149 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the high cost of fuel particularly for old age pensioners living alone and the long term unemployed with large families, he will raise the free fuel allowance from the present £5 limit.
The national fuel scheme assists households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A payment of £5 per week is payable to eligible households from mid-October to mid-April. An additional payment of £3 per week is made in the Dublin area because of the higher cost of smokeless fuel.
Any changes in the overall level of the Fuel Allowance would have significant financial implications and could be considered only in a budgetary context.
