Ivor Callely
Ceist:133 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any moneys due to health boards from local authorities in relation to supplementary welfare payments; and if so, the way in which this money will be collected.
Written Answers. - Supplementary Welfare Payments.
Prior to 1986 the arrangements for financing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme involved a sharing of the cost between the Exchequer (via the Social Welfare Vote) and the local authorities. Since 1986 the full cost of the scheme is on the Social Welfare Vote.
Pending completion of audited accounts of expenditure the amounts due to health boards from local authorities in their area for the years up to 1986 had to be determined on a provisional basis. Subsequently the authorities were notified of their final liabilities for the years in question. A number of authorities however have not yet settled their accounts with the health boards on the basis of their corrected liabilities. Earlier this year I requested each board to provide details of all contributions actually paid by local authorities in their area. When this information is received the net position of each local authority/health board will again be established and the bodies concerned will be notified.