Tony Gregory
Ceist:176 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 has had a substantial reduction in her special diet supplement which she can ill afford.
Written Answers. - Special Diet Supplement Reduction.
Social Welfare recipients who have a special dietary requirement arising from a health condition and whose means are insufficient to meet this need may qualify for an additional payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Entitlement to payment is determined by the relevant Health Board.
The person concerned is in receipt of a Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance and is also in receipt of a diet supplement. It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the claimant was recently advised, on the basis of medical certification to follow a new diet, the cost of which was less than the original diet. As a result the Eastern Health Board was obliged to re-calculate and reduce the amount of her diet supplement based on the cost of the new diet.