Gay Mitchell
Question:146 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [18911/06]
View answerThursday, 18 May 2006
Questions (146)
Written answers
Recipients of Social Welfare or Health Service Executive 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. This scheme and related supplements are administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), and neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to individual claim decisions.
The amount of supplement payable depends on which category of diet has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, as well as the income of the individual and his/her dependants.
The Dublin/Mid-Leinster Area of the HSE has advised that the person concerned had been prescribed a diabetic diet, and applied to the Executive for a diet supplement in July 2002. In accordance with the regulations governing the scheme at that time, the amount of diet supplement payable in this case was EUR 30.20 per month.
The amount of diet supplement in individual cases is calculated generally by assessing one third of weekly income against the cost of the relevant diet. Following a review of the scheme, the advice now available is that people with diabetes need a healthy eating diet. The review showed that the cost of a healthy eating diet can be met from one third of a basic social welfare payment.
As a result of a change in his personal circumstances, which led to a significant increase in his income, the diet supplement of the person concerned was reviewed. Based on his means, the person concerned is not now entitled to a diet supplement.