Vol. 415 No. 1
272 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason smokeless solid fuel is not included in the free fuel for the elderly scheme particularly in the Dublin area where there is a ban on the selling of bituminous coal; if smokeless solid fuel will be included in this scheme in the future and if so, if he will outline the date, if any, he proposes for its inclusion.
The fuel allowance is a weekly cash payment of £5 per week made during the heating season to households dependent on long term social welfare or health board payments who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. It is intended to help recipients to meet the ongoing cost of fuel.
An additional allowance of £3 per week is payable to recipients of fuel allowance living in the built up areas of Dublin to help meet the additional costs arising from the ban on the sale of bituminous coal in these areas.
It is open to recipients of the fuel allowance to use their payment to purchase whatever type of fuel is suitable for their needs.
