Vol. 402 No. 10
46 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance is eligible for a free fuel allowance; and if so, when it will be approved.
The national fuel scheme is intended to assist households who are dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.
One of the qualifying conditions for a fuel allowance is that the applicant must not have access to his own supply of fuel.
Responsibility for the payment of a fuel allowance in the case in question is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board. The board have informed me that the person concerned has been refused a fuel allowance on the grounds that he has access to his own supply of fuel.
