Vol. 474 No. 1
22 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has reconsidered his refusal to grant fuel allowances to tenants in communally heated dwellings not providing subsidised heat; if so, if the fuel allowances will be backdated to 1 January 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1962/97]
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist qualified householders who are on long-term social welfare of 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.
Fuel allowance has not been paid to tenants of communally heated dwellings where subsidised heating at generous rates is provided. As such local authority tenants are considered to be in a more favourable position than a person providing their own heating needs with the assistance of a free fuel allowance, they do not qualify for the allowance.
I have re-examined the matter in the context of the ongoing review of the national fuel scheme, which will be completed shortly, and I do not propose to make any changes in the existing arrangements in the meantime.
