Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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739. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection where an individual with special dietary requirements will get financial assistance with ongoing weekly expenses associated with gluten-free foods (details supplied); the section of the HSE that has responsibility for this; and if an email address and contact number will be provided for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48169/25]

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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794. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the diet supplement for celiacs, to assist them with the additional costs associated with a gluten free diet; his plans to re-introduce this scheme for new applicants; the alternative measures to assist celiacs with the financial burden of their diet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49056/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 and 794 together.

My Department has responsibility for the Diet Supplement, which is administered under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, and is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition. There are currently 709 people in receipt of Diet Supplement.

A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was commissioned by my Department during 2013. The research showed that the average costs across all the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one-third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate, which was then paid at €186 per week, and is currently €242. Based on this evidence, the Diet Supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014.

Recipients continue to receive the Diet Supplement at their existing 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.

The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items. I have been advised that gluten-free products were removed from the list of reimbursable items under the General Medical Services scheme, in September 2012 and that there is no current Health Service Executive scheme to supplement the cost for existing, or newly diagnosed patients with coeliac disease requiring gluten free diets to supplement the cost of the diet.

However, a person can claim tax relief from Revenue for certain food products if they have specific dietary requirements due to a medical condition. This applies to persons with coeliac disease where they require gluten free foods specifically manufactured to be gluten free. Further information is available at: www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/health-and-age/health-expenses/additional-diet-expenses-for-coeliacs-and-diabetics.aspx.

In addition, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.