Vol. 528 No. 2
160 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the changes in the blind welfare allowance since it was first introduced in 1979 to include the dates and phasing of increasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30102/00]
The blind welfare allowance is a supplementary payment that comes under the aegis of my Department and forms part of special services for blind persons under the Blind Persons Act, 1920. Guidelines referring to this allowance were issued to the health boards in 1979. These guidelines stated that persons not maintained in an institution who are in receipt of the maximum blind pension or the social welfare contributory old age pension may be regarded as eligible for the blind welfare allowance at the maximum rate, subject to certain conditions.
I understand that health boards take a flexible approach in regard to this allowance. The allowance is paid if the applicant is in receipt of a Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs payment, e.g. disability allowance, invalidity pension, a blind pension or an old age pension.
This allowance has been the subject of a number of modifications over the years including the following: in 1979, the supplementary blind welfare allowance payable to a blind person in receipt of a blind pension was paid at a rate of £5.50 per week for those aged over 21. By 1982, this was extended to blind persons in receipt of a blind pension, aged 18 years or over, at a rate of £11.50 per week.
The blind welfare allowance is subject to the normal annual budgetary increases. The rates payable to a blind pension recipient over the age of 18 years from 1986 to the current date are as follows:
|
Year |
Maximum amount per week |
|
1986 |
£14.80 |
|
1987 |
£15.20 |
|
1988 |
£15.70 |
|
1989 |
£16.20 |
|
1990 |
£17.00 |
|
1991 |
£17.70 |
|
1992 |
£18.40 |
|
1993 |
£19.00 |
|
1994 |
£19.60 |
|
1995 |
£20.10 |
|
1996 |
£20.60 |
|
1997 |
£21.30 |
|
1998 |
£21.90 |
|
1999 |
£22.80 |
|
2000 |
£24.00 |
