asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of increased cost of fuel he will now consider increasing the amount granted to Limerick Corporation for the coming winter for the free fuel scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Fuel Scheme.
87.
Having regard to the facts that the Limerick fuel scheme grant was raised by £500 to £6,000 as recently as last year and that I am not aware that there has been any substantial increase in the cost of turf in Limerick in the meantime, I do not consider a further increase in the grant to be justified.
Is the Minister serious in saying that he raised the grants from £500 to £6,000 last year?
No.
That is what the Minister said.
I said it was raised from £5,500 to £6,000.
In view of the fact that fuel prices have been increased this year and that we were substantially behind in our distribution to necessitous people last year, will the Minister reconsider the situation in regard to Limerick, particularly in view of the fact that we have increased numbers coming on our home assistance lists?
Can the Minister justify to the people of Limerick, in particular, the situation in which Limerick receives £3 per head for every person who receives free fuel compared with £5 per head or more for all other urban areas?
Not all other urban areas. This scheme was introduced as a temporary measure during the last war for non-turf urban areas, of which there were 17. Limerick was not one because it was considered to be a turf area.
In the bogs.
It was later included with a grant of £500 and it has been jacked up ever since. I should like to point out particularly that the measure, purely temporary for the duration of the war, has been extended beyond the war. The measure was particularly aimed at providing fuel when it was scarce. That was the original purpose of the scheme. I do not know if the grant last year to Limerick extended over the full period——
Indeed, it did not. They got one cwt of turf every week.
Based on your local contribution, you are entitled to a recoupment of £6,000 but your claim fell short of £6,000.