Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
166 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in view of the real hardship being caused, he will reintroduce supports for dietary supplements particularly for recipients with long term medical needs. [33547/04]
View answerAny person who is receiving a social welfare or health board payment, who has been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and who is unable to provide for his or her food needs from within his or her own resources, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This position has not changed and currently there are 12,726 people in receipt of diet supplement payments. Over 15,000 new cases have been awarded so far in 2004.
Diet supplements are subject to a means test. The amount of supplement payable in individual cases depends on which of two categories of diet -low cost or high cost — has been prescribed by the applicant's medical advisor, and the income of the individual and his or her dependants.
The basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement remained unchanged between 1996 and 2004. Increases in social welfare rates and in the cost of special diets since 1996 had not been taken into account in assessing entitlement in individual cases.
With effect from 1 January 2004 the diet supplement scheme was restructured, not abolished, to take account of increases in both social welfare payment rates and the rate of food inflation since 1996. In the case of new applicants for diet supplement the amount of supplement payable is based on increased up to date diet costs, €44 for lower cost diets or €57 for higher cost diets, less one third of the applicant's income or one sixth of the joint income in the case of a couple. Given the increases in the social welfare payment rates were higher than inflation since 1996, the shortfall to be met by diet supplement is less than what it was in the past. However, people who were in receipt of a diet supplement prior to the introduction of the revised regulations on 1 January 2004 continue to receive their existing rate of supplement until such time as there is a change in their circumstances that would warrant a review of their case.
In order to inform future consideration of the scheme, my Department commissioned a study by an expert from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute. The study examined the special diets prescribed in legislation for which assistance is available through the existing diet supplement scheme. It also considered the appropriate level of assistance required to cater for any additional costs involved in providing for necessary special diets. I will shortly be assessing the findings of the study. As I announced at the time of the budget, I have allocated an additional €2 million to enable the diet supplement scheme to be updated as necessary at the earliest opportunity in 2005, as soon as the research study findings have been assessed.
