Vol. 553 No. 5
383 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the level of dietary allowance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and her views on whether the sum granted probably costs more to administer and covers very little of the high cost of the specialist foods required. [14715/02]
Recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. 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 depends on which of two categories 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 South-Eastern Health Board was contacted on behalf of the individual in question and has advised that the application for a diet supplement was in respect of a lower cost diet. The board also advised that the person in question has a private pension in addition to his old age pension. I agree that the rate of payment in this case is low. However, as entitlement to a diet supplement is means tested, any additional income a person may have has the effect of reducing the amount of diet supplement payable. The level of payment has been reviewed and is correct. Full details of the calculations involved are shown on the following tabular statement.
All aspects of the diet supplement will be examined in conjunction with the review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is currently under way as part of my Department's series of formal programme evaluations. I have no immediate plans to amend any aspect of the diet supplement pending receipt of the review group's recommendations on the matter.
|
Household Income |
€ |
|
Old Age Pension – personal rate |
147.30 |
|
Old Age Pension – qualified adult rate |
98.10 |
|
Private pension |
37.00 |
|
Household income |
282.40 |
|
? of household income |
47.06 |
|
Current cost of lower cost diet |
48.84 |
|
less ? of household income |
47.06 |
|
Amount of diet supplement payable |
1.78* |
384 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the rate of payment for the carer's allowance can be doubled for carers who care for two people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14337/02]
The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides support to carers on low incomes who look after people in need of full-time care and attention. The carer's allowance is not a payment for caring. However, carers of more than one incapacitated person are currently entitled to an additional 50% of their rate of payment. This is an acknowledgement of the difficulties, both financial and personal, which are faced by these carers. Of the 19,300 people currently in receipt of carer's allowance, 1,600 are in receipt of this additional 50% payment. The estimated full year cost of the introduction of a double payment for carers of two incapacitated people is €4.6 million and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
