Vol. 559 No. 5
394 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of diabetic allowances within the South-Western Area Health Board; the cost of such allowances; the criteria laid down in regard to the method of the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26563/02]
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. Expenditure on diet supplements in the South-Western Area Health Board is running at €1,158,659 in 2002. There are 2,324 supplements in payment at present. The amount of supplement payable depends on which of two categories of diet – lower cost diets or higher cost diets – has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, the age of the person and on the income of the individual and his or her dependants.
In the case of a lower cost diet, the amount of diet supplement payable is €34.28 less one third of the applicant's income, one sixth in the case of a couple. In the case of a higher cost diet, the amount of diet supplement payable is €44.44 less one third of the applicant's income, one sixth in the case of a couple.
However, increases in weekly social welfare payment rates since 1996, when the current arrangements were put in place, are disregarded for the purposes of this means test. All aspects of the diet supplement are being examined in conjunction with the review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is currently under way in my Department. I have no immediate plans to amend any aspect of the diet supplement pending receipt of the review group's recommendations on the matter.
