Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:171 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures she intends to take to prevent further increases in the price of coal and peat briquettes. [15697/02]
Written Answers. - Price Increases.
In the absence of State enforced price control, movements relating to prices of goods and services are an ongoing aspect of the market economy and it is a matter for the suppliers of goods and services, or the associations that represent them, to explain the basis for such increases in prices that do occur. The encouragement of a competitive environment and promotion of greater price awareness is a far better way of ensuring value for money for consumers than the imposition of price controls. I urge consumers to be assertive in seeking explanations for price increases that they do not feel are justified.
In relation to the elderly and other persons who are in receipt of certain other qualifying payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, that her Department administers a household benefits package scheme. One component of this is the fuel allowance. This allowance is made up of five alternatives, that is, electricity allowance, natural gas allowance, electricity – group account – allowance, the bottled gas refill allowance or the free fuel allowance. The latter allowance of €9 a week is paid for 29 weeks a year and in certain living areas is supplemented by a supplementary allowance of €3.90 to take into consideration a legal requirement to burn only smokeless fuels in the area. The supplementary allowance is admin istered by the Department and, in some cases, the health boards.