Bernard J. Durkan
Question:460 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to increase the weekly rate of free fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21277/99]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
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.
Expenditure on the national fuel scheme has increased by approximately 20 per cent in the last 6 years from £37.5 million in 1993 to £44.9 million in 1998. This year a sum of £46.4 million has been provided in the Estimates for the scheme.
Fuel price inflation has been much lower than general price inflation. The fuel and light component of the Consumer Price Index rose by 9.6 per cent between August 1985 and August 1999. Increasing the basic allowance by this amount would increase the rate from £5 to £5.48 per week. The additional expenditure for the 1999/2000 fuel season would be £4.4 million.
The rate payable cannot be viewed in isolation from the improvements in the primary weekly payment rates. In that regard, substantial increases in all the social welfare primary payments of either £3 or £6 per week were paid from the beginning of June 1999.
Any change in the rate of payment would have significant cost implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.
Joe Higgins
Question:461 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has received communication from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the extension of the free travel scheme for pensioners living in Ireland to Irish pensioners visiting Ireland; and if he will agree to its request. [21286/99]
A fundamental review of all the free schemes is being carried out to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner. This includes an examination of the qualifying conditions for the schemes, the target groups, the scope for alternative policy arrangements and the suggestion to extend the scheme. The conclusions of the review will be considered in the context of budget 2000.
The review of the free schemes, which is already at an advanced stage, is being carried out by an official of my Department on secondment, as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Policy Institute, Trinity College, Dublin. It is expected that the research conducted will be formally pub lished by the Policy Institute in the "Trinity Studies in Public Policy" series in January 2000.
The organisation referred to by the Deputy has made a submission on the issue of extending the free travel scheme to EU pensioners visiting Ireland. This issue is being examined in the review.
Michael Ring
Question:462 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an increase in her invalidity pension to include her dependant spouse. [21360/99]
The person concerned, who is currently in receipt of invalidity pension, applied for qualified adult allowance in respect of her spouse on 27 September 1999. Qualified adult allowance is payable in respect of a dependant spouse or partner who is not in receipt of a social welfare payment in their own right and whose income is below the specified income limit.
Her case has been referred to a local investigator to establish details of her husband's income from self-employment. When this information is received a decision on her entitlement to this allowance will be made and she will be notified of the outcome.
Michael Ring
Question:463 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive farm assist. [21364/99]
The application for farm assist from the person concerned has been approved. Following a review of his means, a deciding officer assessed his weekly means at £57.00. This assessment entitles him to a farm assist payment at the weekly rate of £16.50, which is payable from 27 October 1999.