asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the large number of free fuel refusals in the Cork area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
32.
The national fuel scheme applies to persons, living alone or only with certain excepted persons, who are in receipt of long term social welfare or health board payments and are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Under the urban scheme, also operating in the Cork city area, a fuel allowance is automatically payable to persons residing in the urban area who are in receipt of either an old age non-contributory or blind pension or a widow's pension.
Entitlement to a fuel allowance is determined by reference to the conditions associated with either the national or the urban fuel schemes and payment of an allowance must be refused where these conditions are not satisfied in any particular case. This year, for the first time, the long term unemployed are entitled to fuel allowances under the national fuel scheme. The addition of some 30,000 beneficiaries as a result of this improvement means that the numbers qualifying this year are greater than ever.
Information received from the Southern Health Board in relation to their operation of the national scheme in Cork indicates that there is no marked change in the number of applications refused this year as compared with last year.
33.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of reviews of recipients of single woman's allowances undertaken by his Department for the period from 1 July 1986 to 30 June 1987.
Approximately 740 recipients of single woman's allowance had their claims reviewed in the period from 1 July 1986 to 30 June 1987. Of these, some 500 resulted in the allowance being terminated, most of which were as a result of the claimants transferring to old age pensions. The remaining 240 reviews arose following a change in the claimants' circumstances and resulted in changes in the level of weekly payment depending on whether the person's means had improved or disimproved.