Vol. 495 No. 4
280 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to increase the fuel allowance to an amount consistent with the increased price of fuel throughout the country and pro-rata in areas where only smokeless fuel is permitted to be sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19914/98]
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist 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 per week in smokeless zones — is paid to eligible households for 26 weeks from mid-October to mid-April.
It is generally accepted that the fuel and light component of the Consumer Price Index measures the changes in fuel costs. These data show that fuel prices have fallen slightly in the last two years. Increasing the rate of fuel allowance could only be considered in a budgetary context, taking into account increases in primary weekly payment rates. In that regard, the Deputy will recall that substantial increases of either £3 or £5 per week were paid from June 1998 in all the social welfare primary payments.
