Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 367: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has made or is in the process of making a decision to restore the fuel allowance to certain senior citizens living in certain local authority complexes; if the allowance will be backdated to 1 October 2005; and if he will make a decision on the matter. [33950/05]

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

Fuel allowances are not payable in situations where a person has access to their own fuel supply or benefits from a subsidised or low cost heating service, such as those provided by Dublin City Council at a number of its housing complexes. The basis for this condition is that the contribution that local authority tenants in communal heating situations make towards their heating costs is limited to a fixed and relatively small amount, typically around €6 per week, included as part of their overall rent charge. Unlike other tenants and social welfare clients generally, who must buy their own fuel at prevailing retail cost, these tenants are subsidised significantly by Dublin City Council and the other local authorities concerned and thus are protected from increases in heating costs. In order to ease the burden on tenants, payments are spread over 52 weeks and in addition to heating each room, hot water is provided for 24 hours a day for each day of the calendar year. My Department carried out a review of the fuel allowance payments to ensure that the eligibility rules were being applied correctly and consistently. In the course of the routine review, it came to light that payments had been made in error to certain recipients who were in local authority accommodation with subsidised or low cost heating. The allowances in question, which should not have been put in payment in the first place, were withdrawn in these cases with effect from the start of this winter heating season. Fuel allowance payments in previous years were made in error to these people. In some instances, fuel allowance was awarded because the applicant indicated that their heating costs were not being subsidised. While it may be inequitable for the people concerned to retain the allowance, when neighbouring tenants in the same circumstances are not eligible and are managing their budgets accordingly, I am conscious of the particular circumstances which apply in the cases which the Deputy mentions. I am currently reviewing the situation as a matter of urgency.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 368: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for the free schemes. [34006/05]

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

The person concerned has been awarded electricity and telephone allowances with effect from 29 September 2004. The relevant service providers have been notified to apply the allowances to the customer's account with effect from 30 September 2005. An arrears payment covering the period 29 September 2004 to 29 September 2005 will be issued to the customer's home address shortly. A free lifetime television licence has also been awarded with effect from the expiry date of the customer's current TV licence.