David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

——I will get back to the amendment, which refers to the fuel and living alone allowances. It would be useful to know where we are going with both allowances. That is the thrust of the amendment. I understand that the living alone allowance has not been raised this time around, but it would be useful to know what the Minister's thinking is on that allowance. Should it be subsumed into the social welfare code by including it and increasing it across the board? If it is useful it should have been increased, otherwise it should be subsumed into the social welfare code. Deputy Penrose has graphically illustrated the fact that the social welfare code is very complicated.

We must remember a small group of people at this time. Every year, when the Minister for Social and Family Affairs makes all these changes following the budget, community welfare officers and other social welfare staff have to grapple with changing rates. They must alter all their operating procedures which represents a huge amount of work. The Minister should simplify the social welfare code as much as possible to make it easier to understand. Where possible he should amalgamate allowances, while not decreasing them, so that the system is easier for people to grasp. The same applies to varying rates of payment.

As regards the fuel allowance, it would be useful to check the impact of dramatic fuel price increases. Perhaps the Combat Poverty Agency has information on that matter. Much will depend on the weather conditions this winter. Discussions take place every year on increasing the length of time for which the fuel allowance is provided. We are always told that it cannot be done because it costs so much, but I would like to see what benefit it would make if that contribution, as the Minister calls it, was available to people for a bit longer during the year. In other words, is it needed?

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