Rory O'Hanlon
Question:222 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive butter vouchers for the period September 1993 to November 1996. [3591/97]
Written Answers. - Butter Voucher Scheme.
The person concerned applied for supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) from September 1993 pending the outcome of his appeal against his disallowance of unemployment assistance.
The North-Eastern Health Board decided that he was not entitled to receive SWA on a personal basis. However, they gave him a partial payment in respect of his spouse and children pending the outcome of his appeal. The health board decided that he was not entitled to receive butter vouchers as he was not personally in receipt of a qualifying payment.
Vouchers which are exchanged for butter under the EU social assistance butter scheme are valid for three months i.e. the month of issue and the following two months. This validity period of three months is part of the operating conditions of the scheme and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is not in a position to allow or request the EU Commission to provide for an extension of the voucher validity date.