David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 412: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount paid out under the diet supplement scheme in the years 2004 and to date in 2006; the number of recipients of the supplement in each year respectively; the minimum and maximum amounts payable under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/06]

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

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.

Any person who is receiving a social welfare or health service executive payment, who has been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and who 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.

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. In the case of new applicants for diet supplement the amount of supplement payable is based on increased up-to-date diet costs, €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. The assessment of individual entitlements takes account of the annual increases in primary social welfare rates since 2004.

Details of the current number of recipients and the number of recipients of diet supplements since 2004 are shown in the following table:

As diet supplements are subject to a means test, the amount payable varies from case to case, depending on the income and other circumstances of the applicant. The minimum payment can be as little as €1.20 per month while the maximum payment can be in excess of €20 per week. The most typical amounts paid are €8 per week in the case of single people and €10 per week in the case of couples.