Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 362: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a diet supplement allowance has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; if a further appeal will be allowed in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26736/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Recipients of social welfare or Health Service Executive payments that 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. This scheme and related supplements are administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive and neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to individual claim decisions.

The amount of supplement payable depends on which of two categories of diet, low cost or high cost, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical adviser, as well as the income of the individual and his-her dependants.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been prescribed a low cost diet, and applied to the health executive for a diet supplement. In accordance with the regulations governing the scheme, diet supplement is not payable in this case on means grounds. The person concerned does not qualify because the cost of the diet he has been prescribed is less than one third of his assessable income.