Written Answers. - Health Board Guidelines.
Jim Mitchell
Question:
128
Mr. J. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the guidelines issued to the Eastern Health Board and other health boards in regard to the administration of supplementary welfare payments: whether the health boards are required by him to ensure that all subsidised rental utilities comply with fire, safety and planning requirements; in respect of the Eastern Health Board areas, the amount paid out in rental subsidies for each of the past five years; the expected amount to be paid out this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2007/94]
General guidelines on the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme were issued by my Department to the health boards in 1977. Specific guidelines on the operation of rent and mortgage supplementation under the scheme were issued to the boards in 1988. These guidelines are supplemented by Department circulars on specific issues as they arise.
The scheme guidelines are currently being reviewed by my Department in consultation with the health boards. Arising from this review revised guidelines on rent and mortgage supplementation have been prepared and will be published shortly. Guidance on exceptional needs payments and diet supplements are currently under review and will be published when this process is concluded.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment introduced regulations in relation to housing standards for rented houses which came into effect on 1 January 1994. These regulations require landlords of rented houses, including flats and maisonettes, to ensure that such houses meet certain minimum standards. The standards include the safety of electrical and gas installations. The Fire Services Act, 1981, also put an onus on the person in charge of a premises, generally the landlord, to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire in the premises and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of the persons on the premises, if a fire breaks out.
The primary role for enforcement of planning law has been devolved from the Department of the Environment to the local authorities who have powers under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1993 to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Acts.
Guidelines do not require health boards to ensure compliance with fire, safety and planning requirements; however, should the board become aware that the accommodation is manifestly of an unacceptable standard the matter can be brought to the attention of the relevant local authority.
My Department will keep this issue under review in the light of the new regulations. Up to 1993 the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was administered with minimal computer assistance which limited the amount and the quality of statistical material available on the scheme. A new statistical system for the scheme was introduced on a phased basis in 1993 and has been fully operational in the Eastern Health Board only since the start of 1994. Reliable data on expenditure on rent supplements in the Eastern Health Board for the last five years is not available; however, actual expenditure on rent supplements in the Eastern Health Board area from January to May 1994 is now available from the new statistical system. Based on this information it is estimated that the outturn on rent supplements for the board will be in the region of £24 million in 1994.
