asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether any check is maintained on the standard of the fuel supplied under the free fuel scheme; if he will outline the method of tendering by local authorities; and whether in the case of Dublin city the same firm supplies all fuel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Fuel Scheme.
31.
While my Department exercises general control over the cheap fuel scheme the administration of the scheme in each area in which it operates is the responsibility of the local authority. The responsibility includes checking the quality of fuel supplied.
Each local authority invites tenders for the supply of fuel and submits them to my Department for approval.
Only one tender was received for the supply of fuel to Dublin and the tender was accepted.
Would the Minister agree that his Department should have a legitimate interest in the quality of the fuel given out by the local authorities all around the country?
It is properly the field of the local authorities.
Would the Minister agree that there could be an extraordinary disparity in the quality of the fuel between one area and another and that wet turf at this time of year is not the best fuel?
In some areas the scheme does not exist at all.
I know that.
There is a bigger disparity there.
Does the Minister know that his Department will not allow the local authorities to supply anything else but turf? They cannot supply briquettes or coal under the free fuel scheme.
That is part of the history of this scheme which is really outmoded now. The justification for having this scheme existing in a limited number of towns no longer exists.
Is the Minister saying there is no further need for this?
The logical thing to do would be to substitute this scheme at some stage by an increase in social welfare payments.
32.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of free fuel in the State.
The average weekly number of persons who received free fuel under the cheap fuel scheme in the 1968-69 season was 1,982.
33.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange free delivery of fuel to recipients under the free fuel scheme.
Arrangements for the delivery of the fuel are not a matter for my Department and there is no provision in the State grant to meet the cost of such a service. In Dublin and some other centres arrangements exist whereby the fuel is collected at the depots by approved carters and delivered to the homes of recipients for a small charge, paid by the recipients. Special arrangements have also been made by the Dublin Health Authority for delivery of fuel without charge to certain classes of persons in whose cases non-delivery would cause hardship, such as disabled persons in receipt of home assistance.
Since it appears the Minister intends to wind up this scheme, should he not immediately set about giving this increase in social welfare benefits that he has mentioned? Would he not agree that some people completely depend on this free fuel?
In this Government when we decide on increasing expenditure, as in the case of social welfare payments, we do it at the appropriate time when arrangements are also made for the raising of the necessary revenue.
Would the Minister agree that there is the danger of a centrally heated complacency on the Government side, and that when these people are facing the rigours of the winter, he should seriously consider either expanding the scheme or bringing in the increased benefit?
No. All the evidence is to the contrary.