Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
623. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons 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, 2012 and the estimated total costs in 2013; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34906/13]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, miscellaneous supplements may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances. The main types of miscellaneous supplements are: diet supplement; heating supplement; travel supplement; and crèche supplement. The budget provision for miscellaneous supplements in 2013 is €11.4 million. The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not held by the Department. However, 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 included for the Deputy’s information.
With regard to my future plans for these supplements, a review of the diet supplement scheme is currently underway and a report will be completed in the coming months.
Miscellaneous Supplementary Welfare Supplements (Including Diet and Heating Supplements)
|
Recipients by County |
31st December 2010 |
31st December 2011 |
- |
28th December 2012 |
5th July 2013 |
|
Carlow |
188 |
170 |
162 |
146 |
|
|
Cavan |
162 |
144 |
122 |
119 |
|
|
Clare |
336 |
306 |
290 |
258 |
|
|
Cork |
2,112 |
1,839 |
1,588 |
1,391 |
|
|
Donegal |
145 |
139 |
144 |
139 |
|
|
Dublin |
5,353 |
5,320 |
4,936 |
4,579 |
|
|
Galway |
361 |
365 |
338 |
295 |
|
|
Kerry |
399 |
310 |
230 |
226 |
|
|
Kildare |
387 |
365 |
361 |
352 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
189 |
167 |
166 |
152 |
|
|
Laois |
255 |
232 |
226 |
217 |
|
|
Leitrim |
28 |
28 |
29 |
24 |
|
|
Limerick |
1,741 |
1,638 |
1,460 |
1,358 |
|
|
Longford |
119 |
108 |
103 |
102 |
|
|
Louth |
195 |
188 |
187 |
180 |
|
|
Mayo |
284 |
267 |
242 |
183 |
|
|
Meath |
176 |
166 |
176 |
161 |
|
|
Monaghan |
111 |
101 |
96 |
84 |
|
|
Offaly |
256 |
235 |
229 |
226 |
|
|
Roscommon |
231 |
207 |
174 |
156 |
|
|
Sligo |
42 |
42 |
46 |
50 |
|
|
Tipperary |
903 |
787 |
730 |
642 |
|
|
Waterford |
368 |
326 |
219 |
176 |
|
|
Westmeath |
150 |
140 |
142 |
151 |
|
|
Wexford |
372 |
357 |
327 |
285 |
|
|
Wicklow |
343 |
297 |
286 |
259 |
|
|
Totals |
15,206 |
14,244 |
13,009 |
11,911 |
|
|
- |
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
- |
Expenditure €000 |
13,400 |
12,800 |
11,200 |
11,400* |
*Provisional
