Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

441. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost in a full year of restoring the diet supplement scheme in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27259/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition.

Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. The research showed that the average costs of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one third of the current rate of personal social welfare payments. A decision was taken to allow existing recipients to continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.

There are currently some 3,500 recipients of diet supplement. It is not possible to estimate what it would cost to fully restore the scheme without identifying those that satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme, including the medical conditions. The numbers in receipt of diet supplement had been decreasing prior to the closure of the scheme to new applicants from almost 8,000 in June 2011 to some 6,000 in December 2013.

The cost of diet supplement is provided for under the heading of “other supplements” which also include supplements such as heating and travel. Expenditure under these supplements was some €9.5 million in 2013 and €6.2m has been provided for 2016. Detail of expenditure on these supplements since 2011 is provided in the tabular statement for information.

Changes to any schemes administered by my Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context.In cases of particular hardship that may present, officials in my Department have the legislative power to award a payment under the SWA scheme in cases of exceptional need.

Tabular Statement: Expenditure on Supplements 2011-2016 (Includes Diet, Heating and Travel) €000