Seamus Kirk
Question:40 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of clients who benefited under the butter voucher scheme in 1995; the number of vouchers issued; and the system by which vouchers are issued. [7203/96]
Written Answers. - Butter Voucher Scheme.
Regulations of the European Union provide for the sale of butter at reduced prices to persons receiving social assistance. Those eligible under the scheme are entitled to two pounds of butter a month at a reduced price for themselves and for each dependant. Vouchers in respect of the subsidy are issued automatically to each beneficiary and are tendered at retail outlets in part payment for butter purchased.
People receiving non-contributory pensions from my Department are supplied with books of butter vouchers for the calendar year which are issued to their home addresses in early-January. Vouchers for the unemployment assistance clients are issued by the local office of my Department in loose-leaf form on a montly basis.
In December 1995, a total of 450,000 persons receiving social assistance payments from my Department and their 405,000 dependants were eligible under this scheme. A total of 21.5 million vouchers were issued by my Department in these cases.