Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Diet Allowance Supplements.

Noel Ahern

Question:

140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the guidelines and criteria for the granting of diet allowance supplements to diabetics or others by the health boards; and if the system can be explained so that payments are transparent and more predictable. [2654/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Recipients of social welfare or health boards payments who have been prescribed a diet as a result of a medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet their need, may qualify for a diet supplement. A supplement will only be paid in respect of certain diets and in most cases the diet must be prescribed by a hospital consultant, a hospital registrar or a general practitioner. A diabetic diet in one of the diets for which a supplement is payable.

The legislation governing the payment of supplementary welfare allowance and diet supplement is provided for in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, and in regulations SI No. 382 of 1995 and SI No. 190 of 1996. Entitlement to a diet supplement is determined by the health boards in accordance with the legislative provisions which specify the medical conditions in respect of which a diet supplement may be paid and the means test which must be applied. The amount of supplement payable varies depending on which category of diet has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, the age of the person and on the income of the individual and his/her dependants. Diet supplements are paid subject to a means test and applicants are required to contribute any excess assessable means towards their food costs. The method used to calculate the payment of SWA and diet supplement is provided for in legislation. It is estimated that one third of a single person's income is spent on food. The amount of a low cost diet supplement has been determined as being £27 less one third of a single person's income. In the case of a high cost diet this is £35 less one third of a single persons income. In the case of couples one sixth of the income is calculated.

The present basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement payable in any individual case was put in place in 1996. Increases in weekly social welfare payment rates since 1997 are disregarded for the purposes of this means test as they would have the effect of reducing the rate of diet supplement payable in all cases and would eliminate entitlement altogether in many cases. The SWA scheme is being reviewed as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations and a fundamental examination of the diet supplement will be undertaken in this context.