Denis Naughten
Ceist:120 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans he has to review the means test limit for the free fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27916/00]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are on long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A payment of £5 per week, £8 per week in smokeless zones, is paid to eligible households for 26 weeks from mid-October to mid-April.
In order to qualify for a fuel allowance a person must satisfy a number of conditions including a means test. To be eligible for assistance under the national fuel scheme the income of an applicant and his or her household must be below a certain limit, currently £30 per week in excess of the appropriate maximum Irish contributory pension/benefit rate. This means that a person may have a combined household income of up to £30 per week over the appropriate maximum pension/benefit rate, or savings of £30,000 and still qualify for the fuel allowance.
The income limit was increased from £15 per week, or savings/investments of £8,000, to the current level at the beginning of the 1999-2000 fuel season.
Any further changes to the means test of the national fuel scheme can only be considered in a budgetary context and, as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot give specific details of the measures that will be contained in this year's budget.
I would point out that fuel allowances are not the sole mechanism through which assistance is provided to people with heating needs. There is a facility available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs. An application for a heating supplement may be made by contacting the community welfare officer at the local health centre.
Where a person would not normally qualify for a heating supplement there is provision under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to pay an exceptional needs payment. Exceptional needs payments are payable at the discretion of the health board taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Question No. 121 taken with Question No. 117.