Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick for diabetic allowance. [11126/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Any person who is receiving a Social Welfare or Health Service Executive payment who 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.

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.

Under the revised scheme, diabetes is not classified as requiring one of the new prescribed diets but capable of being provided for within a healthy eating diet which every person is expected to meet from one third of their basic payment.

The person concerned is not entitled to a diet allowance as diabetes is not classified as requiring a prescribed diet. Also, as she is not in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment she would not qualify for a diet allowance.