Tony Gregory
Question:126 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has been refused a dietary allowance for her eighteen month old baby who is allergic to all dairy products. [1993/94]
Written Answers. - Dietary Allowances.
A social welfare recipient whose child dependant has a special dietary requirement, arising from a health condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet this need, may qualify for an additional payment under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme.
The determination of entitlement under the SWA scheme is a matter for the health boards. The person concerned applied to the Eastern Health Board for assistance with the cost of a specific baby food. Her application was refused by the board on the grounds of need. The board has been contacted and has advised that the application has been reviewed and that she has been awarded a diet supplement of £4.60 a week, backdated to 1 October 1994. I understand that the board has now written to the client notifying her of the award.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance, the weekly rate of which is in course of being reviewed. Her husband has also been in receipt of unemployment assistance but moved to community employment at a higher weekly rate of payment.
The review of the wife's unemployment assistance arises because her weekly rate of entitlement was calculated in relation to her husband's former weekly rate of entitlement which has now been increased. This will result in a reduction of her entitlement. However the combined weekly income to the couple will still be in excess of their combined unemployment assistance payments.
The Department will shortly be in contact with her regarding the adjustment of her unemployment assistance.