Vol. 428 No. 3
51 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the substantial increase in supplementary welfare allowance payments from £40 million to an estimated £100 million in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Expenditure on the Supplementary welfare allowance scheme has increased from £44.8 million in 1989 to £101 million in 1992. I am providing an additional £12.5 million in 1993 for expenditure on the scheme. The substantial increase in expenditure in recent years is attributable to a number of factors.
In recent years the grant has provided special increases in excess of the rate of inflation to people on supplementary welfare allowance, for example, the personal rate increased by 11 per cent in 1991 and approximately 6 per cent in 1992.
In 1992 the Government substantially increased the allowances payable in respect of the clothing and footwear scheme, from £40 to £50 in respect of a child attending second level school and £25 to £35 in respect of a child attending primary school. About 170,000 children benefit under this scheme and expenditure is met out of the supplementary welfare allowance allocation.
The underlying increase in the live register in recent years has resulted in an increase in recourse to supplementary welfare allowances.
A substantial proportion of the increase in expenditure is due to an increase in the amount of rent or mortgage interest payments under the scheme. It is estimated that expenditure on rent and mortgage supplements has increased from £7 million in 1989 to £30 million in 1992.
52 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 has been refused assistance with her ESB bill since this is the first request for assistance in almost two years; if the Eastern Health Board is acting on his instructions in refusing such applications; if he will direct the health board to assist this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the determination of applications for assistance with fuel bills is a matter for each Health Board.
An exceptional need payment may be made by a Health Board towards a fuel debt such as an ESB bill where, in the opinion of the Board, exceptional circumstances exist which would warrant such a payment. It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the person in question was refused assistance with his ESB bill because his case was considered not to be exceptional.
In deciding on the application the Health Board followed its normal policy for assessing need under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the person in question has appealed and that a decision on this matter will be conveyed to him shortly.
53 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is not being assisted with an ESB bill or with her mortgage by the Eastern Health Board; if the health board is following a directive issued either by him or the Minister for Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the determination of applications for assistance with mortgage repayments and fuel bills is a matter for each Health Board.
