Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition.
Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. Payment of the supplement will continue to be made to the existing recipients for as long as they continue to be entitled to the payment.
The research showed that the average costs across all of the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme can be met from within one third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the SWA rate of €186 per week. Accordingly, I decided to discontinue the scheme on the basis of this evidence. I have no plans to reverse this decision.
In cases of hardship that may present, officials have the legislative power to award a payment under the SWA scheme in cases of exceptional need. It is open to any individual with a tax liability, including those who may also be in receipt of a social welfare payment, to apply to their local tax office for tax relief on the cost of gluten-free food.
