Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
296. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the documentation that a recipient of dietary supplement is required to provide when a review is being carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39601/16]
View answer298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the dietary supplement was closed for new applicants; his plans to reinstate this supplementary allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39603/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 298 together.
Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently 3,400 in receipt of the diet supplement.
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. The research showed that the average costs of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one third of the current rate of personal social welfare payments. A decision was taken to allow existing recipients to continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme. I have no plans to re-instate this allowance.
The Deputy should be aware that in cases of particular hardship that may present, officials in my Department have the legislative power to award a payment under the SWA scheme in cases of exceptional need.
In reviewing a person’s continued entitlement to diet supplement, both medical and financial need must be established. This can be established by producing the appropriate medical evidence. However, if a permanent need for the diet was originally established no further medical evidence is required and the review is concerned with financial means only.
In relation to verification of financial means, documentation required on review of diet supplement can include bank statements, payslips, certified accounts, stocks, shares or any other document that shows proof of means.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
