Seamus Kirk
Question:196 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will increase the fuel allowance in the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28170/01]
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, (€6.35) per week is normally paid to eligible households. However, an additional £3, (€3.81) per week is paid in smokeless zones, bringing the total amount in those areas to £8, (€10.16) per week. In the case of a relatively small number of people living in smokeless zones, the £3, (€3.81) per week smokeless fuel supplement only is payable.
As announced in last year's budget, the fuel season has been increased from 26 weeks to 29 weeks. The fuel season was extended by two weeks in April and now also commences one week earlier in October.
The national and smokeless fuel schemes were reviewed in 1998 as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The review group took the view that improvements in the national fuel scheme cannot be looked at in isolation from the improvements in the primary weekly payment rates. The group concluded that the present rates of payment should remain unchanged if improvements in primary payment rates fully compensated recipients for all price inflation, including fuel price inflation. In that regard, the increases in primary payments that I introduced in the three budgets since the scheme was reviewed have provided for a substantial real increase after fully compensating for inflation, including fuel price inflation. The increases in primary payments of £8, (€10.16) to £10, (€12.70) per week that I brought into effect in April of this year are the largest ever implemented.
Giving people a real increase in their primary payment for 52 weeks of the year is a more expensive option than increasing the fuel allowance payment rate for part of the year. However, it is the correct approach to take as it gives people greater flexibility in meeting their needs. Any further changes in the scheme would have to be considered in the context of the budget and in light of alternative proposals for delivering improvements in social welfare supports to pensioners and others.