Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

Other Questions.

Social Welfare Benefits.

3:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to inform all eligible carers of their entitlement to the respite grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10942/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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All carers in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit, prescribed relative allowance or constant attendance allowance will automatically receive the respite care grant from my Department next June without having to apply for it. Similarly, carers who get domiciliary care allowance from the Health Service Executive will automatically receive the respite care grant from the HSE.

The respite care grant was extended in 2005 to carers other than those in receipt of a carer's allowance, carer's benefit, prescribed relative allowance, constant attendance allowance and domiciliary care allowance. Carers who do not qualify for a grant under one of these schemes may now obtain a grant if they and the person for whom they care satisfy certain conditions. In 2005 my Department ran a press campaign advertising the scheme in national newspapers and the local press. Posters were put up in various centres and offices. The Department operated a freefone service to advise customers of potential entitlement and assistance in matters relating to the scheme.

For the coming year, all customers who received a grant in 2005 will be contacted individually to inform them of their entitlement and to verify that their circumstances have not changed since last year. Following that, the Department will again advertise the scheme nationally through national and local newspapers. We will also provide a freefone service to outline scheme improvements to customers and to assist them with their applications. Supplies of information booklets and application forms will be available in local social welfare offices as well as on request from the respite care grant section in Dublin.

In addition, the Department will review, case by case, claims that failed to qualify last year because the carer was working outside the home for more than ten hours per week. People in these circumstances may now qualify as the maximum number of hours has recently been extended to 15 hours per week.

My Department will also write to customers who apply for carer's allowance and who do not qualify for payment on means grounds requesting that they apply for the respite care grant payment. They may qualify for that payment as it is not subject to a means test. I extended eligibility for the grant to this new category of applicants in the budget for 2005 to ensure that people who do not qualify for any of the payments I mentioned earlier and who look after people who are not capable of looking after themselves get some recognition from the State for their efforts.

In addition to the 2006 scheme, applications will be accepted for the 2005 scheme up to 31 December 2006. To date, almost 7,000 people have benefited from the 2005 scheme at a cost of just under €7 million. I am satisfied that these arrangements will be successful in ensuring that as many eligible carers as possible are made aware of their entitlement to the respite care grant.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A number of groups who made presentations to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, even those dealing with social welfare issues day to day, were amazed by the number of people attending a recent conference of some of these organisations who did not know this respite grant existed. The scheme to provide a respite grant to people who had previously applied for the carer's allowance but did not qualify on the grounds of means is excellent. We saw from the census the number of carers who are debarred from getting grants on the basis of their means. Thousands are involved.

It is time we and the Department of Social and Family Affairs started selling this good news scheme. I made some statements on the matter in a radio interview and a significant number of people came to my office as a result. I got application forms for them to apply for the grant and some of them have already received their money. People should be informed of this scheme because thousands of them care for a loved one at home without any help from the State. This respite grant exists but they do not know about it. We and the Department should sell it to them.

I complimented the Minister recently on the family income supplement, FIS. Thousands of people were entitled to that payment but many of them did not avail of it because they did not know about it. The Department launched a media campaign to inform them of it, which I welcomed. I hope it will do the same to promote this respite scheme to the thousands of people who do not know about it. People often have a fear that when they apply for a scheme, there will be a sting in the tail and they will find they do not qualify. There is no means test involved in the respite care grant. Therefore people should apply for it if they do not qualify for any of the other grants. They are entitled to it and I urge the Minister to continue to promote it.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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We must compliment the Minister on this innovative and worthwhile scheme. He has done well in the application and implementation of this grant by extending it beyond the recipients of carer's allowance. Undoubtedly, thousands of people entitled to this grant have not applied for it. Will the Department facilitate applications from people who would have qualified last year but who did not apply for it because of their lack of knowledge on the operation and applicability of the scheme?

Will the Department embark on a sustained advertisement campaign, similar to that for the FIS which has reaped dividends, to inform people of this grant? The respite care grant is the only avenue of hope for assistance for many carers who provide essential care to loved ones in their homes. The Minister must ensure the availability of the grant is advertised in every social welfare office, community welfare office, health centre and public area where notice of such schemes is posted. This is a progressive measure on which I compliment the Minister unequivocally. It is greatly appreciated.

At a recent conference in Kerry, carers from the Carers Alliance said that many people did not know about their entitlements. It is a matter of grave concern that people who provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year do not know their entitlements. I know it is only a drop in the ocean, but it provides a small relief to people.

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The feedback from the family income supplement campaign, based on initial figures I received this morning, is quite good. I wanted to see to what extent the television and radio advertising was effective and we received an immediate extra 1,000 applications for the family income supplement. I will have more comprehensive figures in a week or two and will supply them to Deputies.

There is no doubt that when one promotes a scheme to which people are entitled, it works. I intend to carry on with further campaigns, perhaps on a scheme by scheme basis, with particular reference to schemes for which people must apply as opposed to those involving automatic entitlement. Perhaps the next appropriate scheme would be for carers and I will examine that possibility.

Up to the end of December 2005, 5,883 claims were allowed and the Department paid almost €7 million between the beginning of 2005 and March 2006. There are approximately 30,000 people in receipt of carer's allowance, all of whom receive payment automatically. On top of that, approximately 7,000 additional people have now claimed it, over and above those already on carer's allowance. We had a rough estimate that between 9,000 and 10,000 additional people would be entitled to the allowance. In that context, an advertising campaign might encourage the remainder to apply and I will consider that option.

The Department will also write directly to the 7,000 people I have just mentioned seeking confirmation that their circumstances are the same. On receipt of such confirmation, we will be able to pay the allowance to them. We have also brought the allowance to the attention of carers associations and all our offices have been asked to promote it. It is referred to in all the magazines and leaflets that carers associations such as Caring for Carers produce. Such organisations do great work and are heavily promoting the allowance. We are receiving a steady trickle of extra applications every week so awareness is beginning to pick up and we will continue to promote it.

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he expects to introduce the revised diet supplement payment he promised when he launched the recent report on the cost of healthy eating and the cost of special diets; the way in which the revised payment will differ from the current one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11002/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The report referred to by the Deputy is on a study of the cost of healthy eating and specialised diets undertaken on behalf of the Department by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, the findings of which were published on 23 January 2006.

The report is the most comprehensive review of specialised diets and food costs carried out in Ireland in the past decade. It has brought an up-to-date focus on the varying costs of healthy foods and contains modernisation proposals based on the latest medical views on special diets. The report also examined the special diets prescribed in legislation for which assistance is available through the existing diet supplement scheme and considered the appropriate level of assistance required to cater for additional costs incurred in providing for necessary special diets, relative to the cost of a normal healthy-eating diet.

In welcoming the report, I undertook to introduce a revised system of diet supplement payments and I still intend to do so. However before doing that, I considered it essential to have officials of my Department undertake a comprehensive examination of the findings of the report to determine how a revised diet supplement scheme should be developed, taking on board the recommendations contained in the report. That examination is now complete and I expect to introduce new arrangements in April.

People receiving a social welfare or Health Service Executive payment, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and who are unable to provide for their food needs from within their own resources, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Diet supplements are subject to a means test. The amount of supplement payable in individual cases depends on which of two categories of diet, low cost or high cost, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser and the income of the individual and his or her dependants.

The basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement remained unchanged between 1996 and 2004. Increases in social welfare rates and the cost of special diets since 1996 were not taken into account in assessing entitlement in individual cases. However, because increases in the social welfare payment rates were higher than food price inflation since 1996, the shortfall to be met by the diet supplement is less than what it was in the past.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

With effect from 1 January 2004 the diet supplement scheme was restructured to take account of increases in social welfare payment rates and the rate of food inflation since 1996. People in receipt of a diet supplement prior to the introduction of the revised regulations continued to receive their existing rate of supplement and the rate will not change until such time as there is a change in their circumstances that would warrant a review of their cases.

In the case of new applicants for diet supplement, the amount payable is based on increased up-to-date diet costs of €44 for low cost diets or €57 for high cost diets, less one third of the applicant's income or one sixth of the joint income in the case of a couple.

The test of affordability under the existing scheme is whether the cost of a special diet is more than one third of a person's income. When it is, a diet supplement is paid to make up the difference. I intend to maintain that approach in the new scheme.

One of the findings of the study undertaken by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was that people on the lowest social welfare payment could meet the full cost of the most expensive prescribed diet for less than one third of their income if they shopped in one of the large low-cost stores. However I recognise that not everybody, because of age or location, or for some other reason, is in a position to do their shopping at the cheapest stores. It is my intention that the revised scheme will provide a level of supplement coverage and payment rates to enable people on low incomes to meet the identified extra cost of medically-recommended special diets based on food costs at convenience stores, where prices are invariably higher.

The study also recommended a new framework for categorising the various diets in which all of the prescribed diets would fall and I intend to reflect this in the new scheme. Consequently, the scheme will be simpler. I am also mindful of the importance of ensuring that people on low incomes generally can afford a healthy-eating diet even where they have not been prescribed a specialised diet. The record increases in weekly social welfare payment rates which I introduced in January of this year help towards achieving that objective.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. The study carried out by Dr. Muireann Cullen of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute and commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, through the Health Service Executive, examined the position regarding the purchase of special foods in convenience stores and the large, low-cost stores. Obviously there was a significant difference in price. It is important that any revised scheme for the diet supplement recognises that not everybody can shop in the cheapest shops due to mobility problems, location or other factors. Often elderly people cannot travel to such shops, but they still require special foods. It is important that the Minister does not opt for a supplement based on prices in the low-cost stores, thus leaving those who are forced to shop in convenience stores at a disadvantage.

Coeliacs pay approximately two and a half times more for a loaf of bread than those of us who are not coeliacs. People who must adhere to gluten-free, high-protein, high-calorie, liquid, altered consistency, low-lactose or milk-free diets pay two to two and a half times more for their food and it is important that such people, particularly those on low income and in receipt of social welfare, should not spend more than one third of their income on their specialised diets.

When will the revised diet supplement payment scheme be introduced? It was a foolhardy move that, as part of the savage 16 cuts, the diet supplement was emasculated to save pennies and ensure that the rich man's table would have all the pounds.

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Dr. Muireann Cullen of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, who did a superb job with the study, modernising it and bringing the information up to date. We are talking here about special diets, the typical additional cost of which, according to the report, is between €3 and €8 per week, depending on the type of diet concerned. At the end of 2005, there were 11,723 people in receipt of a supplement. The cost of the scheme in 2005 was €6.3 million. I am in no way seeking to reduce expenditure here. Rather, I am trying to ensure that the diet is a modern one and Dr. Cullen's study dealt with that issue very professionally.

The study found that a person on the lowest social welfare income could meet the full cost of the most expensive prescribed special diet for less than one third of weekly income, provided he or she shopped at the large, low-cost stores. The report was critical of prices for special diets in a number of other outlets and in a number of locations.

The revised supplement will help a considerable number of people. I hope to sign the necessary documentation in April so we will try to kick off the new scheme from then. The total will be approximately €6.3 million and the scheme will start in April. Again, I thank the institute for an excellent study. The revised supplement will help people with different conditions who are unable to meet their special diet costs in any other way.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am anxious the Minister makes his announcement quickly and informs us of the guidelines for those on special diets. While I welcome the report, I wish to point out what is typical of Dublin thinking with regard to reports in general.

It is well to advise people to shop at major retail food outlets for value for money. That is typical of Dublin thinking. While there are major food retail outlets in every corner of Dublin city, people in Belmullet, Achill, Ballinrobe or Kiltimagh, particularly those on low incomes, do not have the same access to these outlets or no public transport exists.

The Minister must introduce a scheme to tackle this. The cut in the diet supplement was one of the savage 16 cuts to save some €1 million. Last summer, social welfare officers, whether through a misunderstanding or an instruction, began cutting the diet supplement. I tabled a question on the matter and was glad the Minister and the Department rectified it quickly. The people in question need the assistance of community welfare officers as the specialised foods they require are costly and difficult to locate. I hope the Minister will introduce a new scheme as quickly as possible.

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I note the Deputy's comments. The study showed convenience stores are the most expensive places to purchase specialised foods while the large low-cost stores offer the best prices. It also highlighted that a person on the lowest social welfare income can meet the costs. I understand the difficulty for people in remote areas not having access to large convenience stores. The estimated extra cost for a specialised diet is between €3 and €8. The supplement will help towards covering that. I will monitor the scheme as it progresses.

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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People on low income do not have a choice of retailers or cannot buy foodstuffs in bulk. Some families who have a coeliac child can have many difficulties weaning the child back on to food. In such cases, many parents entice their children with desserts, biscuits and other sweets but these are not covered by the diet supplement payment. Has the Minister information on this? Will the supplement only apply to diets that cover basic foodstuffs?

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There is much detailed information on diets prescribed for the purpose of diet supplement. These include diets for diabetics, low-fat, low-cholesterol, high-fibre, gluten-free, low-lactose and milk-free diets. For people under 18 years, it includes high-fibre, diabetic, high-protein, gluten-free, low-protein and low-lactose, modified-protein, high-calorie diets. The revised scheme is not for an ordinary diet but for the extra cost of a special diet. It has been broken down into four categories, gluten-free, low-lactose, milk-free, high-protein, high-calorie and liquidised, altered-consistency diets. I will pass the information on to the Deputy. It is very expert and I am happy that it is targeted. I want to relaunch the scheme because it was somewhat out-of-date.