Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 1151: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way entitlement to diet supplement payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is assessed; if rates of diet supplement payments are laid down by his Department; if rates have been regularly reviewed; when they were most recently reviewed; his views on whether current levels of diet supplement payments are realistic in view of food cost inflation; if he will review the levels of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43933/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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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 whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The amount of diet supplement payable in individual cases is calculated to ensure that a single person spends a maximum of one-third of their income on food. If the cost of their diet is more than one-third of their income, then a diet supplement will be paid.

The basis for calculating the amount of diet supplement remained unchanged between 1996 and 2004. In 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 April 2006, revised regulations on diet supplements came into effect. These regulations reflect the findings of the report of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), published in January 2006 and the objective that all social welfare recipients, including those with special dietary needs, should be able to purchase an appropriate diet at a cost of no more than one-third of their income or one-sixth in the case of a couple.

The diet report priced the cost of diets in a variety of outlets from the cheapest — large discount stores — to the more expensive local convenience stores. The reference cost of diets prescribed in regulations were set at the highest prices surveyed — those at convenience stores — in order to protect the position of those who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to shop around.

The Regulations prescribed a new range of specialised diets, as follows:

1. Low-lactose, milk-free, which costs €62.27 per week

2. Gluten-free, which costs €65.27 per week

3. High-protein, high calorie which costs €68.27 per week and

4. Altered consistency (liquidised), which costs €71.77 per week

The Regulations provided for a payment of a supplement where the cost of the diet as specified in the regulations is more than one-third of the applicant's income.

Regulations are currently being revised to take account of inflation over the twelve months to November 2006 and I hope to introduce these new Regulations shortly.

I am also mindful to ensure that people on low incomes generally can afford a healthy-eating diet even where they have not been prescribed a specialised diet. The record increases in weekly social welfare payment rates introduced in Budget 2007 which are well ahead of inflation, will help achieve this by ensuring that suitable food is now more affordable for people who are relying on social welfare payments.