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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

John Bruton

Ceist:

142 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the rates of fuel allowance paid to social welfare recipients since the scheme was first introduced. [2130/94]

The fuel scheme operated by my Department was introduced in 1988 when the then urban and national fuel schemes were amalgamated into one scheme. The scheme assists householders who are on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. The rate of the fuel allowance in 1988 was £5 per week and was payable to eligible households from mid-October to mid-April. The weekly rate of payment and the duration of the scheme have remained the same since then. Expenditure on the scheme has increased from £25.86 million in 1988 to an estimated £41 million in 1994.

An additional smokeless fuel allowance of £3 per week, was introduced in October 1990, to assist people living in built up areas of Dublin with additional costs arising from the ban on the sale of bituminous coal in these areas.

Expenditure on the fuel scheme is expected to be in the region of £41 million this year. It is estimated that some 256,000 recipients will receive the £5 fuel allowance and some 80,000 recipients will qualify for the £3 smokeless fuel allowance in 1994.

The smokeless fuel scheme will be extended to the Cork city area from the beginning of 1995 when the ban on the sale bituminous coal comes into effect. This will benefit some 20,000 households.

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