Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

374 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons on FÁS schemes receive the free fuel allowance and butter vouchers and yet when they come off these schemes and go on unemployment benefit they are not entitled to them; and if he will allow persons coming off FÁS schemes going on to unemployment benefit to retain the free fuel allowance and butter vouchers. [12195/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The position is that the social welfare secondary benefits, which comprise the free fuel allowance and butter vouchers as well as the Christmas bonus, are payable only to recipients of long-term social welfare payments. Since former community employment, CE, workers who qualify or re-qualify for unemployment benefit after their period of community employment finishes are in receipt of a short-term payment, they are accordingly ineligible for the social welfare secondary benefits.

This situation arises as a consequence of the introduction of class A PRSI for community employment, workers, which was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1996. The purposes of this measure was to enhance the PRSI status of community employment workers and to place them on a par with other insured workers in terms of both insurance benefits and liabilities. 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, treatment (dental and optical) benefits and occupational injuries benefit.

I am not in a position to introduce special concessionary arrangements along the lines suggested by the Deputy without having equal regard to the position of other short-term social welfare payment recipients. Any such concessions would have cost implications and could only be considered in light of available resources and in the light of other priorities.