John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to extend the boundary areas with regard to the entitlement of the smokeless fuel allowance; the criteria used for drawing up the boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15513/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their extra heating needs during the winter season. A fuel allowance payment of €9 per week is paid to eligible households, with an additional €3.90 per week being paid in smokeless zones, bringing the total amount in those areas to €12.90 per week.

The current set of designated cities and towns in which the smokeless fuel allowance rate applies is as follows: Arklow, Bray, Celbridge, Cork City, Drogheda, Dublin city, Dundalk, Galway city, Kilkenny city, Leixlip, Limerick city, Naas, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford city and Wexford.

The specification of designated urban areas in which the sale of smoky fuels is prohibited is primarily an environmental and public health matter. It comes under the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and he is responsible for designating the boundaries of these areas. The responsibility of my Department is to ensure that the special smokeless fuel allowance is paid to eligible pensioners and other relevant social welfare clients in these designated areas, to assist them with the additional cost of purchasing smokeless fuel products.