Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the dietary allowance for diabetics who are old age pensioners; the reason this amount has not increased in more than 15 years; and if he will review this matter for categories of persons such as old age pensioners. [31883/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Diet supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, HSE. They are intended to meet any shortfall that may exist between the cost of a special diet and the amount it would be reasonable to expect a person to pay towards their food costs. These diet supplement payments are not confined to pensioners. Any person who receives a social welfare or HSE payment, has been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and is unable to provide for his or her food needs from within his or her own resources may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Diet supplements are subject to a means test. Under the existing scheme, the amount of supplement payable in individual cases depends on the income of the individual and his or her dependants and which of two categories of diet, low-cost or high-cost, has been prescribed by the applicant's medical advisor. The basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement remained unchanged between 1996 and 2004. Increases in social welfare rates and in the cost of special diets since 1996 had not been taken into account in assessing entitlement in individual cases. With effect from 1 January 2004, the diet supplement scheme was restructured to take account of increases in both social welfare payment rates and the rate of food inflation since 1996. Due to the fact that increases in the social welfare payment rates were higher than food price inflation since 1996, the shortfall needing to be met by the diet supplement is less than in the past. People who were in receipt of a diet supplement prior to the introduction of the revised regulations on 1 January 2004 continue to receive their existing rate of supplement until such time as there is a change in their circumstances which warrant a review of their cases. The amount of supplement for new applicants, at €44 for lower-cost diets or €57 for higher-cost diets, less one third of the applicant's income or one sixth of the joint income in the case of a couple, is now based on increased up-to-date diet costs.

In order to inform a reappraisal of the scheme, my Department commissioned a study by an expert from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute. The study examined the special diets prescribed in legislation for which assistance is available through the existing diet supplement scheme. The study also considered the appropriate level of assistance required to cater for any additional costs involved in providing for necessary special diets, relative to the cost of a normal healthy eating diet.

The findings of this research study have been assessed by my Department to determine how the diet supplement scheme should be developed. Development of a new scheme is complex, as the expert advice is that certain diet conditions covered under the existing scheme should be adjusted to reflect the latest medical and dietary thinking, and the increasing availability of the standard food products that are suitable for people with special dietary needs.

My Department is making arrangements to publish the research study. In finalising the revised scheme and regulations, I want to make sure that any new supplement coverage and payment rates put in place continue to enable people on low incomes to meet the identified extra cost of medically-recommended special diets if they need them. In the meantime, diet supplements continue to be provided for existing recipients and new applicants as heretofore.