Vol. 480 No. 2
269 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the free fuel allowance was originally introduced; when the last increase was given; the plans, if any, he has to increase it; and if he will make the allowance applicable for the full 12 months of the year. [13827/97]
The national fuel scheme was introduced in October 1988. The most recent rate increase was given in October 1995 when the allowance was increased from £4 to £5 per week.
An additional smokeless fuel allowance of £3 per week was introduced in October 1990 to assist people 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. This was later extended to Cork city and adjacent areas to coincide with the ban on the sale of bituminous coal which came into effect there on 13 February 1995.
I do not propose to make the allowance applicable for the full 12 months of the year. The scheme runs for six months of the year, from mid-October to mid-April, in recognition of the fact that it can be unpredictably cold in autumn and spring, even though there will also be periods when the allowance will be paid even though temperatures are above the seasonal norm.
270 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will correct the anomaly whereby people on community employment schemes lose their secondary benefits, that is, fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, back-to-school clothing and footwear allowances and child dependent allowance for children in full-time education, when they go on to unemployment benefit at the end of the scheme. [13828/97]
The issue raised by the Deputy relates to the position of those workers who return to the live register after their period of community employment finishes and who, by virtue of having paid Class A PRSI contributions, may qualify or requalify for unemployment benefit rather than reverting to long-term unemployment assistance.
The Social Welfare Act, 1996, provided for the extension of Class A PRSI to community employment workers. Class A PRSI provides cover for the full range of benefits and pensions available under the social insurance system including, for example, unemployment benefit, disability benefit, maternity benefit, retirement pension, old age contributory pension, widow's contributory pension and treatment (dental and optical) benefits and occupational injuries benefit. The purpose of this measure was to enhance the PRSI status of community employment workers and to put them on a par with other Class A workers.
In the case of persons who qualify or requalify for unemployment benefit, their earnings in the relevant tax year will determine whether they receive a graduated rate or the full rate of unemployment benefit. Persons entitled to a reduced or graduated rate of unemployment benefit are entitled to claim unemployment assistance if it is more beneficial to them. However, long-term unemployment assistance is not payable where the claimant is entitled to full rate unemployment benefit.
