asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the free fuel scheme, how it is operated and if any improvements have been introduced this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Fuel Scheme.
20.
Fuel schemes under which necessitous households in 17 cities and towns can obtain one cwt of turf or timber weekly during the period from the 1st October to the end of April each year, are operated by local authorities with financial assistance from the State. The fuel is free of charge to persons in receipt of home assistance; in the case of other recipients a small charge is made. From the 1969-70 season on, the period of operation, which had hitherto been from November to March, was extended as already indicated. This year's schemes follow the same lines as last year's.
Have arrangements been made for fuel to be delivered to these old people?
That is a matter for the local authority.
The money comes from the Minister's Department. Can this fuel be delivered to these old people or must they go and carry it on their backs? Can we have a reply from the Minister? Can arrangements be made to deliver this fuel to their homes?
I do not make arrangements about delivery.
Could the Minister recommend——
We cannot discuss this question all afternoon.
It is an important matter for these old people.
The other questions are equally important.
This is very important socially to these old people. Can the Minister recommend that arrangements be made with contractors to deliver the fuel? The cost would be negligible. Would the Minister recommend that to the authorities concerned?
No. As I pointed out, regulations governing the fuel scheme are made by the 17 local authorities concerned in the 17 southern cities. Why they have this privilege as against other cities I do not know.
Would the Minister like to take it away?
I would like to extend it.
Would the Minister be prepared to amend the legislation in order to remove the discrimination that exists? At the moment people on one side of a road get fuel and those on the other side are debarred because of fixed boundaries.
I do not think there is any discrimination.
Of course there is.
It is a scheme that works very well.
It is worked in a discriminatory way.
It is a good scheme and it works well.