Michael Ring
Question:216 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the dietary allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be increased. [3555/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme, recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a diet as a result of a medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs 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. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards and neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.
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.
The Western Health Board was contacted on behalf of the individual concerned and advised that the amount of dietary allowance in payment is the maximum rate payable for a low cost diet to a person in the circumstances which arise in the particular case.