Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
168 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the diet allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if a response will be expedited and the allowance restored in this case. [33663/04]
View answerRecipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and who satisfy a means test, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards.
The South Eastern Health Board has advised that when the person concerned applied for a diet supplement the only source of income declared was her social welfare payment. During the course of a recent review it came to attention that the person concerned is also in receipt of a private occupational pension. In the circumstances the level of her weekly income is in excess of the prescribed limit. She does not therefore qualify for a diet supplement.
