Vol. 547 No. 3
292 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the changes in respect of the free fuel scheme; if his Department has correctly rounded off the conversion from the punt to the euro in relation to payments under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3301/02]
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 €9 per week is normally paid to eligible households. However, an additional €3.90 per week is paid in smokeless zones, bringing the total amount in those areas to €12.90 per week. In the case of a relatively small number of people living in smokeless zones, the €3.90 per week smokeless fuel supplement only is payable.
The conditions of the scheme are that the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test, and must live alone or only with qualified dependants, a carer, a person in receipt of a short-term unemployment assistance payment or a person who qualifies for a fuel allowance in his or her own right. Over the course of the past two budgets I have introduced a number of improvements to the operation of the scheme. As the Deputy is aware, in budget 2001 I extended the duration of the fuel season from 26 weeks to 29 weeks. The current fuel season commenced on 1 October 2001 and will run until 19 April 2002.
The means test was also eased so that with effect from 1 October 2001 a person may now have a combined household income of up to €50.79 per week or savings-investments of up to €41,266.49 over and above his or her pension and still qualify for a fuel allowance. In budget 2002 I increased the payment rate of the standard fuel allowance, with effect from 1 January 2002, from £5 to €9 per week.
Prior to the introduction of the euro the payment rate of the smokeless fuel allowance was £3 per week. A direct conversion from punt to euro works out at €3.81. For payment purposes the rate of the smokeless fuel allowance has been rounded in favour of the recipients to €3.90 per week. I am satisfied that all recipients under the terms of the national fuel scheme are in receipt of the correct amount of allowance appropriate to their circumstances.
