asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money due to each health board from each local authority for supplementary welfare allowance at the end of September 1984; how he proposes to recoup the health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
474.
According to information supplied by the health boards, the amount due to each board by each local authority in respect of expenditure on supplementary welfare allowances, including costs of administration, at the end of September 1984 is that set out in the following table:
|
Health Board |
Local Authority |
Amount due |
|
£ |
||
|
Eastern Health Board |
Dublin Corporation |
1,533,000 |
|
Dublin County Council |
90,000 |
|
|
Kildare County Council |
269,000 |
|
|
Wicklow County Council |
75,000 |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
Laois County Council |
434,609 |
|
Longford County Council |
354,417 |
|
|
Offaly County Council |
221,045 |
|
|
Westmeath County Council |
627,943 |
|
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
Clare County Council |
751,126 |
|
Limerick Corporation |
61,246 |
|
|
Limerick County Council |
114,004 |
|
|
Tipperary North Riding |
174,675 |
|
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
Cavan County Council |
369,546 |
|
Louth County Council |
1,057,569 |
|
|
Meath County Council |
413,972 |
|
|
Monaghan County Council |
522,591 |
|
|
North-Western Health Board |
Donegal County Council |
513,137 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
363,399 |
|
|
Sligo County Council |
699,070 |
|
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
Carlow County Council |
372,131 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
976,833 |
|
|
Tipperary South Riding |
785,038 |
|
|
Waterford Corporation |
313,005 |
|
|
Waterford County Council |
461,707 |
|
|
Wexford County Council |
870,505 |
|
|
Southern Health Board |
Cork Corporation |
155,455 |
|
Cork County Council |
Nil |
|
|
Kerry County Council |
349,483 |
|
|
Western Health Board |
Galway County Council |
2,336,630 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,066,447 |
|
|
Roscommon County Council |
405,304 |
|
|
Total |
16,737,887 |
Under the legislation governing the supplementary welfare allowances scheme the cost of the scheme is shared between the local authorities and the Department of Social Welfare. Local authority contributions are paid directly by the local authorities to the health boards who administer the scheme and there is no provision whereby the Department can make payments to health boards in cases where local authorities fail to comply with their statutory obligations under the scheme.
The provisions relating to the financing of the scheme were amended in the Social Welfare Act, 1983, so as to provide a more equitable sharing of the overall cost of the scheme as between local authorities and the Exchequer. It is clear however that the system of financing is still not operating in a satisfactory manner and that health boards are in many cases experiencing considerable difficulties in obtaining payments due to them by local authorities in their area. The situation is being reviewed by the Department concerned with a view to improving the system of financing and ensuring that health boards are adequately funded to carry out their obligations under the scheme.