Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Free Schemes.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

390 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the basis on which the extension of free schemes to persons aged 70 years or over did not incorporate entitlements under the national fuel scheme; if he will consider providing free fuel to such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28848/01]

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

The purpose of the national and smokeless fuel schemes 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. In order to receive a payment a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare or health board payment and satisfy a means test.

Fuel allowances are means tested payments that are not age related. The free schemes, on the other hand, are payable mostly to pensioners and are an important part of the package of supports for people of retirement age. This is the reason for the different treatment of fuel allowances and free schemes.

As the Deputy is aware, in recent years I have extended the duration of the fuel season from 26 weeks to 29 weeks and introduced substantial improvements in the means test which mean that a person may now have a combined household income of up to £40, 50.79, per week or savings-investments of up to £30,000, 38,092, over and above the maximum contributory pension rate and still qualify for fuel allowance. I recognise the importance of fuel allowance to pensioners and I am also conscious of the need to simplify the social welfare system, whenever possible. To remove the means test for people over 70 years would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of alternative proposals for delivering improvements in social welfare supports to pensioners and others.