asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether any instructions have been issued by his Department increasing the charges for fuel under the cheap fuel scheme; and, if so, whether he will state the terms of the instruction so issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase in Fuel Prices.
Instructions have been issued to local authorities by my Department setting out revised rates of contribution which will be payable by recipients under the cheap fuel scheme during the coming winter. The instructions follow the normal lines in requesting the local authorities to operate a fuel scheme during the winter period and indicate that revised rates of contribution should be operated as follows:—
1/6 per cwt. from persons in receipt of old age, blind and widows' and orphans' pensions.
1/6 per cwt. from persons in receipt of unemployment assistance who have dependents.
2/6 per cwt. from persons in other households with low weekly incomes.
Does the Minister realise that the effect of that instruction issued by the Department of Social Welfare is to increase the charges for this cheap fuel by 50 per cent. and that this increased charge is being levied on persons who receive no increase whatever on their rates of benefit under social legislation? In the case of the blind pensioners and old age pensioners, it means cheating them out of portion of the increase which they recently received. Does the Minister consider that there is any justification, and if so, what is the justification for increasing the charges at this stage?
I would not agree with the Deputy that we are cheating them. The proportion that they are asked to pay is not any higher than it was three years ago, in proportion to the cost of the fuel.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that unemployment assistance has not been increased at all and that in that particular case you are still requiring the persons receiving unemployment assistance benefit to pay an increased charge for this cheap fuel? You have given him no increase whatever in his rate of benefit to meet this increased charge.
Is the Minister aware that blind pensioners and old age pensioners have been called upon to pay increased rents under the differential rents scheme whilst he has now increased the charges to them under the cheap fuel scheme? I think he should allow the charge that existed previously under the cheap fuel scheme to remain. I would urge the Minister to do so.
Might I ask the Minister not to allow the Department of Finance to raid the pockets of these unfortunate people?
The way you raided the widows' and orphans' and blind pensioners' fund to buy a bus station.
Would the Minister allow the cheap fuel scheme to be operated on the same basis as previously, so far as old age pensioners and blind pensioners are concerned?
I am afraid each of the Deputies has his own idea. One wants cheap fuel for the old age pensioner and the other for the recipients of home assistance. The Department of Finance was not consulted so far.
This is the first stage of the austerity policy.
The first piece of the hair shirt.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the increased charge for fuel now being made to old age pensioners, blind pensioners, persons in receipt of widows' and orphans' pensions, unemployment assistance (and who have dependents), families who have home assistance, but are not in receipt of any of the aforementioned benefits, in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire, and if, in view of the hardship caused by this increase, he will arrange to have vouchers made available at the former rate as heretofore, and also if he will state the circumstances surrounding the increased charge for these vouchers.
Revised rates of contributions by recipients have been fixed for fuel under the fuel schemes to be operated in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire during the coming winter. The increase in the contribution rates became necessary because of the higher cost of fuel, and I regret that it is not possible to revert to the original rates.
Is the Minister aware that the increased rate is out of proportion to the increase in benefits which some of these people recently received? Will he reconsider the matter with a view to an adjustment either of the rates of benefit upward or of the charge for the fuel vouchers downwards?
I hope the Minister will grant these vouchers at the rates which operated previously. The Minister for Finance need not express his scorn at my suggestion. I think it is a cruel thing to raise the charges for cheap fuel to these people, some of whom have already had their rents increased by 3d. per week under the differential rents scheme. I think the Minister should make an Order that cheap fuel be given to old age pensioners and blind pensioners on the same terms as previously.
Is the Minister aware that the increases are out of proportion?
In what way?
The previous charge was 6d. when the pension was as low as 10/-. Recently it has been increased to 1/6. That is, it has gone up by 1/- which is out of proportion to the increase in the rates of pension.
I thought the Deputy was making the case that it was out of proportion to the rise in the cost of fuel.
No, in proportion to the rise in rates of pension.