Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

757. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will have their supplementary dietary allowance reinstated. [48533/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Diet Supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014. People who were in receipt of Diet Supplement at 1 February 2014 continue to receive the Diet Supplement at their existing rate of payment as long as they continue to meet the eligibility conditions for the scheme. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.

Existing Diet Supplement claims are reviewed on a regular basis. If there has been a change in person’s means and their income has increased, the rate of Diet Supplement is adjusted accordingly. Where the increase in a person’s income is higher than the amount of Diet Supplement paid, the Diet Supplement is stopped and the claim closed. This generally happens if a customer moves from one Social Welfare payment to a different one of a higher amount, or from a Social Welfare payment to employment.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned was in receipt of a Diet Supplement in addition to a primary social welfare payment. A review of their Diet Supplement entitlement in June 2025 determined that the person concerned had transferred to a different primary Social Welfare payment and the increase in the primary payment rate is in excess of the Diet Supplement, since 20/06/2025. As a result of this increase, the person concerned no longer met the eligibility criteria to remain on the Diet Supplement payment and their payment ceased on 30/06/2025. A letter advising the person concerned of this outcome and offering them an opportunity to seek a review/appeal of this decision issued to them in writing on 25/07/2025.