Supplementary Welfare Allowance Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (492)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

492. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of the diet and heating supplements in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the current number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5776/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is not collated by the Department. The number of recipients of miscellaneous supplementary welfare supplements, including diet and heating supplements, is collated annually for inclusion in the Department’s Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report. A table detailing the available statistics is set out below for the Deputy’s information. With regard to my future plans for these supplements, a review of the diet supplement scheme is planned in the coming months.

Miscellaneous Supplementary Welfare Supplements (Including Diet and Heating Supplements)

County	31st December 2010	31st December 2011	28th December 2012
Carlow	188	170	162
Cavan	162	144	122
Clare	336	306	290
Cork	2,112	1,839	1,588
Donegal	145	139	144
Dublin	5,353	5,320	4,936
Galway	361	365	338
Kerry	399	310	230
Kildare	387	365	361
Kilkenny	189	167	166
Laois	255	232	226
Leitrim	28	28	29
Limerick	1,741	1,638	1,460
Longford	119	108	103
Louth	195	188	187
Mayo	284	267	242
Meath	176	166	176
Monaghan	111	101	96
Offaly	256	235	229
Roscommon	231	207	174
Sligo	42	42	46
Tipperary	903	787	730
Waterford	368	326	219
Westmeath	150	140	142
Wexford	372	357	327
Wicklow	343	297	286
Totals	15,206	14,244	13,009
	2010	2011	2012
Expenditure €000	13,402	12,766	11,255 (1)

(1) Provisional

Note: The provision for miscellaneous supplementary welfare supplements for 2013 is €11.4 million.