Vol. 473 No. 3
173 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the smokeless fuel allowance to all of the country for those in receipt of social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24937/96]
The smokeless fuel allowance was introduced in Dublin and the surrounding areas in October 1990 and extended to cover the Cork city and adjacent areas on 13 Februry 1995 to compensate for the extra cost of smokeless fuel.
My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, is responsible for making regulations to enforce the ban on bituminous fuels. If the ban is extended to other parts of the country then, similarly, payment of the smokeless fuel allowance will also be considered for those eligible social welfare and health board recipients who are residing in the specified areas.
