Vol. 468 No. 4
755 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the considerable increase by Dublin Corporation of hot water/heating charges to tenants from October 1996, tenants in flat blocks who previously did not qualify for a fuel allowance from his Department will qualify in future provided they meet normal criteria and pay over £8 per week for heating charges. [15705/96]
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist qualified householders who are 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 — £8 in smokeless zones — is paid to eligible households for 26 weeks, from mid-October to mid-April. Not all recipients of social welfare payments are entitled to a fuel allowance. Since 1987, fuel allowance has not been paid to tenants of communally heated dwellings such as Ballymun Flats and St. Michael's estate because subsidised heating was provided by Dublin Corporation. As the local authority tenant was considered to be in a more favourable position than a person providing their own heating needs with the assistance of a free fuel allowance, the local authority tenant did not qualify for the allowance.
In a letter dated 20 May 1996, Dublin Corporation informed my Department that as and from 1 July 1996 the corporation would no longer be subsidising tenants' heating costs. In a letter of reply dated 22 May 1996, my Department sought information from Dublin Corporation. No reply was received to the letter from my Department. In a telephone conversation with Dublin Corporation, initiated by my Department arising from the Deputy's question, my Department was informed that the subsidy would be removed as from 14 October 1996.
