Austin Deasy
Ceist:200 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans he has to increase the rate of payment of the dietary allowance. [14714/00]
Written Answers. - Health Board Allowances.
): Recipients of social welfare or health board payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
Entitlement to a diet supplement is determined by the health boards in accordance with the legislative provisions which specify the medical conditions in respect of which a diet supplement may be paid and the means test which must be applied. The amount of supplement payable varies depending on which category of diet has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, the age of the person and on the income of the individual and his-her dependants.
Diet supplements are paid subject to a means test and applicants are required to contribute any excess assessable means towards their food costs.
The present basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement payable in any individual case was put in place in 1996. Increases in weekly social welfare payment rates since 1997 are disregarded for the purposes of this means test as they would have the effect of reducing the rate of diet supplement payable in all cases and would eliminate entitlement altogether in many cases.
The SWA scheme is being reviewed as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations and a fundamental examination of the diet supplement will be undertaken in this context.